Corporate Social Responsibility AP Renewables, Inc. Sustainability

APRI supports the empowerment of Laguna women through bread-making livelihood

March 02, 2023

AP Renewables Inc. (APRI), a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), led the turnover of a newly-refurbished bakery and bakery livelihood kits to the women’s organization of Limao, Calauan, Laguna recently. They were joined by their partners from the Technical Educational and Skills Development Agency (TESDA) Region IV-A, the Municipality of Calauan and the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (AFI).

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) project, which is backed by more than P500,000 from the AFI, financed the refurbishment of the community bakery and baking provisions which include a mixer, an industrial oven, a bread proofer, bread racks, bread showcase, stainless steel tables, baking tools, and 250 kgs of flour from the Pilmico Foods Corporation. The project also funded capacity training programs in partnership with TESDA.

“Our CSR Team worked hard in going to our APRI host communities in order to identify and assess their needs where we can support,” said APRI Vice President for Corporate Services Leonardo Robel. “Through this, we can produce needs-based, impactful, and sustainable CSR projects for the communities.”

The capacity training ran for eight days, two of which were allocated for evaluation. On the final day of the program, 25 beneficiaries were expected to acquire a Certificate of Competency. The certification enables the recipient to get higher chances of getting employed.

“Our battle cry is ‘TESDA, Abot-lahat’”, shared TESDA Senior Training Unit Head Johram Palconan. “Ang gusto namin ay maabot lahat ng may pangangailangan sa training ng TESDA lalo na iyong may limitasyon at nasa malalayong lugar kagaya ng barangay Limao.”

(What we want is to reach all those in need of training from TESDA, especially those who have limitations and are at far-flung places like barangay Limao.)

“Kami po ay napakasaya sa proyektong mapapakinabangan ng aming samahan. Malaking bagay po ito para sa aming mga ka-nanay upang mapagkakitaan imbis nang lumilipas ang maghapon na wala kami masyadong nagpakaka-abalahan,” said Samahan ng Serbisyong Tama ng Kababaihan (STK) of Limao President Mercia Domingo.

(We are happy with the project [since] it is useful for our organization. This is a big thing for my fellow mothers [as it] gives us a livelihood, as opposed to being unproductive.)

The initiative supports one of the strategic pillars of the AFI: the livelihood program, which aims to positively contribute to the economic conditions, as well as the empowerment, of women, particularly mothers and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The said bakery will be managed by STK of Limao and is expected to run its business within this year, serving the host communities and nearby companies like APRI.