Corporate Social Responsibility Therma South, Inc. Sustainability

AboitizPower gives TechVoc labs to public high schools

February 06, 2018

Two public high schools in Davao City are now ready to use their fully-equipped technical vocational (tech-voc) laboratories for their senior high school students starting this year.

Binugao National High School (BNHS) and Inawayan National High school (INHS) were recipients of tech-voc laboratories from AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation, last 9 and 16 January 2018, respectively.

BNHS with a population of around 600 students received Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) laboratory and a Bread and Pastry Production (BPP) laboratory while INHS with a population of close to 1,300 students received three fully-equipped laboratories for Electrical Installation and Maintenance, SMAW, and Beauty Care.

“This donation really has a big impact to our students. When they see that our school is supported by TSI and Aboitiz, they’ll be more interested to enroll. Because they’ll have a complete set of tools and they can learn hands-on in technical courses. My students doubled to around 130 from the previous year’s 60. We’re expecting that number to further increase by next year,” said Troy Elvin Pascua, Jr., INHS EIM NC II instructor.

“We lacked the equipment, utensils, tools for our specialization. We used to make a fire outside and use that to cook. That’s why this donation will really go a long way. We extend our unending gratitude to TSI for their tireless efforts,” said Amelia Vilarde, BNHS instructor for Bread and Pastry Production and Cookery.

Before TSI’s donation, BNHS would share the limited equipment and resources they had among 30 students per class. Further, in their Bread and Pastry Production class, they would sometimes make a rudimentary oven by using a large pot placed over an open fire.

Similarly, EIM instructor Pascua of INHS shared that his students used to make electrical installations from scratch by using the plywood from the ceiling of one of the school’s old buildings because of the lack of resources.

“We are blessed again for the untiring support given by TSI and Aboitiz Foundation towards education. What you do for our students is really a big help to our students, not only today, but for the rest of their lives. Because they will be equipped with lifelong skills of which they can use in entrepreneurship, college, or in finding work,” said Marilyn Deduyo, DEPED Assistant Schools Division Superintendent.

“The students will now be given a chance at a better future with these TechVoc labs. Thank you for giving us a chance to help you. We want to improve the quality of education of our students so that they can compete with private schools. These are quality, first-grade equipment so I’m sure you’ll be able to use them for a long time,” said Valentin Saludes III, TSI Vice President and Plant Manager.