COVID-19 Response Corporate Social Responsibility Therma South, Inc. Sustainability

Therma South supports women’s livelihood amid the pandemic

December 07, 2020

It is said humanity shines in times of crisis as people, friends and strangers, come together to support one another. As the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic continues to afflict the world, most economic activity has slowed and has even resulted in the loss of jobs.

During the pandemic and the subsequent quarantines in Davao City, a community of mostly women residents in sitio Northern Binugao, Brgy. Binugao, Toril, Davao City have found a way to earn a living despite cards that the pandemic has dealt them.

On their own initiative, the women of Barangay Binugao organized themselves to look for ways to provide for their family. Thus, the rug and rag making organization of Northern Binugao was formed.

“The pandemic has resulted in a lot of unemployment and then you also have children and the elderly who just stay at home due to the community quarantine. This got us thinking about creating a livelihood program that could help support their families during the pandemic,” said Barangay Binugao Kagawad Neil Greg Saniel, who spearheaded the initiative with his wife Genevieve Saniel.

AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI), in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation and the Barangay Council of Binugao, recently turned over 50 rug-making frames, 50 potholder-making frames, 3 electronic sewing machines, scissors, and 400 kilos of raw materials for the organization’s livelihood recovery initiative.

“We are grateful for this support and will make sure to take care of these tools that TSI has given us. We hope to be able to expand the program and create more groups of rug- and rag-makers with these resources we have received,” said Binugao Barangay Captain Remegio Saniel.

Wholly-owned AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) is the owner and operator of the 300-Megawatt Davao Baseload Power Plant located in Binugao, Toril, Davao City. TSI is certified in four ISO standards, namely Quality Management (ISO 9001:2015), Environmental Management (ISO 14001:2015), Occupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 45001:2018), and Asset Management System (ISO 55001:2014). Along with Therma Luzon, Inc. and Therma Visayas, Inc., the three primarily compose the Coal Business Unit of AboitizPower.