Disadvantaged farmers and indigenous peoples (IPs) in Davao City have received livelihood kits worth PHP1 million from Therma South, Inc., a subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower).

The donation was formally turned over to Peace 911, the city government’s coordinating body for peace and development programs, with beneficiaries coming from Paquibato and Marilog Districts. Both of these districts are identified as geographically isolated and disadvantaged.

A major portion of the assistance consisted of sewing tools, including 29 sewing machines to be shared by 11 IP tribes across 13 barangays. The program is expected to benefit around 2,000 women members from the Ovu Manobo tribe in Marilog and the Ata tribe in Paquibato. The women’s groups will use the equipment to make tribal attire, rugs, and other products that can be sold to provide additional income.

“The seeds are especially helpful because they are expensive right now,” said Edgardo Haspe, Officer-in-Charge of the City Agriculturist Office. He noted that farming associations will also receive tools such as shovels, hoes, fertilizer sprayers, as well as vegetable seeds, fertilizers, and compost.

Therma South earlier sponsored a backyard gardening training session at Malagos Farm in Agdao for 25 participants from Binugao and Sta. Cruz. The program, led by Olive Puentespina of Davao Thermo Biotech Corp., was designed to complement government efforts like the Department of Education’s “Gulayan sa Paaralan” and the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s “Gulayan sa Barangay.”

“Peacebuilding initiatives are vital when we talk about sustainable development for Davao and Mindanao,” said Atty. Alona Suzell Ruyeras-Borromeo, Corporate Services Head of the AboitizPower Transition Business Group in Mindanao. “We are privileged to work with the City Government of Davao in helping forward inclusive growth- where no one is left behind.”

Do you think more energy firms should launch community livelihood programs to support farmers and indigenous peoples in the country?Follow Power Philippines on Facebook and LinkedIn or join our Viber community for more updates.

Photo Credit: Aboitiz Website