Hedcor, Sta. Cruz LGU provide new classrooms for public elementary schools

STA. CRUZ, Davao del Sur, Jan. 19 (PIA) – The start of 2015 was a good one for teachers and students in Almendras Elementary School in the municipality of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur as two newly built classrooms were turned over to them ready to be used by 77 grade six pupils.

The students will now enjoy a favorable learning environment in this one-storey two-classroom building donated by Hedcor Inc., Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. and the local government of Sta. Cruz in partnership with the Department of Education.

The classrooms were part of the joint project of Hedcor, Aboitiz Foundation and Sta. Cruz LGU, worth P2.8 million as a continuing support to public education in said town, especially in Hedcor’s host communities for its hydropower plants operations.

The total funding also covered another one-storey two-classroom building which was turned over to Tudaya Elementary School in the far-flung Barangay Tudaya, also in Sta. Cruz, where Hedcor is operating hydropower plants that serve electricity to some parts of Digos City and Davao City.

Rolando Pacquiao, Hedcor’s vice-president for Mindanao operations, said the project is part of the actualization of the hydropower firm’s promise of inclusive growth with its host communities through its Corporate Social Responsibility.

He said the two-classroom buildings were lined up in its 2014 projects, but were only turned over this year.

Out of the total funding, Sta. Cruz LGU allocated P1 million in this project.

Sta. Cruz Mayor Joel Ray Lopez said Hedcor has contributed a lot to the economic and social progress of the municipality, being the biggest investor and biggest tax payer for operating hydropower plants in said town.

The mayor stated that the company has so much concern to its host communities as it continues to pour in several projects for the welfare of the residents and improvement of the areas.

Aside from education, Hedcor’s CSR is also focused on the livelihood, health and environment concerns in its host communities, especially the indigenous cultural communities of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe.

Hedcor, a wholly owned subsidiary of AboitizPower, operates the 42.5-megawatt run-of-river Sibulan Hydropower plant in Barangay Sibulan and 13.6-megawatt Tudaya Hydropower plants in Barangay Tudaya, both of Sta. Cruz town. (PIA-11/Carina L. Cayon)