A renovated plant nursery in Davao del Sur is the latest result of local benefit-sharing under the Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94 program. This comes as Therma South Inc. (TSI), a subsidiary of AboitizPower, turned over a newly upgraded facility to support the province’s environmental initiatives.

Using PHP 940,000 in community development funds allocated through ER 1-94, TSI helped finance the rehabilitation of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) nursery. The upgraded facility now features a propagation area for seeds and cuttings, designated growing zones for various plant species, and dedicated storage and work areas.

Both provincial officials and TSI representatives attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 1, 2025. The program is expected to strengthen reforestation and greening efforts in Davao del Sur, a key component of the province’s local climate resilience strategy.

Under ER 1-94, host communities of power generation facilities are entitled to financial benefits sourced from the corresponding electricity sales. These funds are earmarked for projects such as rural electrification, health services, livelihood programs, reforestation, and environmental protection.

TSI Facility Head JP Pantino emphasized the importance of using community shares to deliver lasting value. “We want these programs to create sustainable impact and support long-term environmental goals,” he said.

Beyond the nursery project, TSI has also been actively supporting large-scale reforestation through its Carbon Sink Management Program. In 2023 alone, the company planted one million trees across 1,000 hectares in Marilog District, Davao City, in collaboration with indigenous communities and non-governmental organizations such as Lunaw Dabaw.

The provincial government and TSI both highlighted that projects like this plant nursery not only benefit the environment but also deepen cooperation between power producers and host communities.

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Photo Credit: Aboitiz Website