Corporate Social Responsibility Davao Light Sustainability

Strengthening livelihood of differently-abled persons association affected by COVID-19 crisis

March 18, 2022

To help strengthen the livelihood of one of the most vulnerable groups severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Davao Light and Power Co., Inc. (Davao Light) and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc., through the Livelihood Recovery Project for Partner Cooperatives and Associations Nationwide (REstart), turned over sewing supplies and materials to the members of the Samahan ng may iba't-ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw (SAKADAB), a group of differently-abled individuals in the Gawad Kalinga community in Los Amigos, Davao City.

REstart aims to support cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to restart their operations and recover from economic loss and failure brought about by the pandemic. Partner cooperatives are expected to use the restarter packages to start anew their businesses with fresh access to financing, newly-acquired skills, and suppliers/buyers to help recover their businesses.

After almost two years since the start of the pandemic, a lot are still affected by the crisis. This includes the 27 members of SAKADAB, who rely mostly on the income that they get from baking bread and pastries - a business they resumed under the same program when they received baking supplies, particularly flour which is the main ingredient used for their baking business, last February 2021 from Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation.

They also received sewing supplies and materials such as fabric, pins and pincushions, thread, needles, etc., and can now resume production of tote bags and other products, and even start expanding their sewing business. They also plan to make use of online platforms to sell these bags and work with partners to reach their target consumers. In this way, they are improving their resilience and at the same time safeguarding their livelihood.

“Una, ang SAKADAB mapasalamaton og daku sa Davao Light ug sa Aboitiz Foundation ug sa mga indibidwal nga nahimong tulay para mahatag sa amoa ang mga sewing materials. Makatabang kini kanamo para sa among livelihood. Ingun nga nagasugod na kami og panahi karon og mga product nga mga eco bags. Daghan gyud kaayong salamat... God bless you more.” (First of all, SAKADAB is grateful to Davao Light and Aboitiz Foundation and to everyone who became instruments for us to receive these sewing materials. This is a big help for our livelihood. We are already starting to sew products such as eco bags. Thank you so much... God bless you more),” said SAKADAB President Ludivico G. Mascariñas Jr..

As the world moves towards the new normal, Davao Light, an AboitizPower subsidiary, continues to give hope to everyone, including the differently-abled persons like the SAKADAB members, by giving them the opportunity to get back on track and start their livelihood anew.