As 3,000 to 5,000 jobs are projected to be generated with the construction of Atimonan One Energy’s (A1E) power plant in the Atimonan, Quezon, A1E will conduct trainings for the residents to equip them in becoming competitive workers in the industry and create income for their families.
A1E’s vision is to build a sustainable, empowered community through the implementation of social development projects. Through the company’s livelihood and enterprise development program, the company provides skills training to elevate the skills, knowledge and capabilities of the residents and make them more competitive and employable.
“Nagsurvey kami sa lahat ng barangay ng Atimonan at we found out that majority are laborer or helper and babagsakan nila. So, in order for us to help na maging competitive naman sila and talagang maiangat nila ang buhay ng kanilang pamilya, kailangan nating silang tulungan through providing skills training,” A1E External Affairs Manager Cynthia Pardo said.
The company recognizes that Atimonanins have experience but some of them have not attended formal trainings. At the core of our program is partnering with organizations and groups with the same goal of providing capacity building and job creation. For instance, A1E partners with TESDA, which provides certification and ensures the productivity and competitiveness of the trainees.
In addition, A1E also has programs that promote environmental stewardship by involving different sectors of the community. The company believes that to make these environmental programs sustainable, involvement of the community stakeholders are necessary.
Included in the CSR activities conducted on March 15 are Kalinga sa Kalikasan, a tree planting activity with the grade 5 students of Caridad Ibaba Elementary School, Department, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fire Protection ng Atimonan, and Protected Area Management Office.
The main goal of the activity was to promote tree planting as one of A1E’s Environmental activities under their Corporate Social Responsibility Program; teach students of the importance of planting and taking good care of the environment; and show that A1E employees, majority of which are from Atimonan, are concerned with the environment.
“We are partnering with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to help us attain the goal of A1E’s environmental programs,” Pardo said.
A1E said that the CSR activities will benefit the Atimonanins in terms of: empowering Atimonan in providing equal opportunities for Atimonanin; helping them to become competitive; providing income generating programs for the beneficiary’s family; help in the development and growth of the municipality since A1E is the biggest partner of the LGU; and help the LGU and DENR in protecting the environment.
Other pillars of A1E’s CSR activity are “Angat Kaalaman, which aims to provide technical vocational program;” “Bantay Kalusugan, with free medical, dental, and eye care scheduled every May and November;” “Programang Kasanay;” “Angat kabuhayan;” at “Kasangga sa Sakuna, which aims to provide first aid training to barangay tanods.”
