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AboitizPower and SOCOTECO II partner with Malungon LGU to strengthen disaster resilience in the region

May 25, 2022

In an effort to help build resilient communities, AboitizPower together with Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI), collaborated with the South Cotabato Electric Cooperative II (SOCOTECO II) to organize a training program that is designed to enhance the skills of their employees in preparing and responding to natural calamities.

The local government unit (LGU) of Malungon and Aboitiz Foundation were tapped to conduct a two-day Community-Based Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Training to help instill a culture of foresighting every time a calamity is underway.

SOCOTECO II emphasizes the critical role of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) program in preserving their resources, ensuring continuity of their operations, as well as giving support to the community in times of calamity.

“This training program taught our personnel the value of creating foolproof DRRM programs. We hope that our personnel will use the knowledge they’ve gained and translate it into programs that will ensure the continuity of our operations, as well as be of help to others during calamities,” MBA - General Manager of SOCOTECO II Geronimo D. Desesto shared.

AboitizPower reiterates how partnerships like the one they built with SOCOTECO II contribute to nation-building, and hopes to lead by example.

“We are thankful for this opportunity to partner with SOCOTECO II in creating a program that empowers individuals to be of service to their fellow citizens in times of calamity. We plan to collaborate with SOCOTECO II and other partner organizations more in the future, on programs that would upraise communities. Our plan to help is simple - implementing projects that have a lasting impact, one community at a time,” said Catherine Del Villar-Pasilaban, Vice President of Wholesale Sales from AboitizPower’s Commercial Operations Business Unit.

Further, Aboitiz Foundation Program Manager for Disaster Risk Reduction, Welfredo Dalumpines, underscores this training as means to help SOCOTECO II Member-Consumer-Owners in future-proofing disaster preparedness in the area.

“The level of engagement we have received from our participants gives us confidence that they were able to learn a lot and are now better prepared not just to respond, but to anticipate and prepare for future calamities. We also thank the local government of Malungon, most especially Meralyn Fernando, Louie Castro, Klea Dionisio, and John Dayanan for helping us conduct this training. We support the communities in taking a proactive stance toward disaster preparedness and hope that this becomes a sustainable model that other communities can adopt,” Dalumpines added.

Board President of SOCOTECO II, Ricardo A. Padernal also expresses his appreciation for the program.

“We thank all the organizations behind this Disaster Risk and Reduction Management training. Programs like these expand our personnel’s skill set, and help them meet the needs of changing times. We are fortunate to have AboitizPower as our partner in striving for societal development through simple projects implemented at the grassroots level,” Padernal said.

The culmination of the training allowed the participants to create a community-based DRRM program integrating the pillars of DRRM: Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery & Rehabilitation.