TVI projects to benefit Toledo City, rest of Cebu 3rd district

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

CEBU Province—AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Visayas, Inc. (TVI) rolled out various projects during the last quarter of 2020 for the benefit of the residents of Toledo City and the rest of Cebu’s third district in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation.

TVI and Aboitiz Foundation turned over in November last year the “Gulayan sa Barangay” project and other farming equipment to the Sawod-Kaladman Farmers Association (SKFA) in Barangay Bato, Toledo City to enhance the association’s farming capabilities.

“We are very grateful for the help extended by Therma Visayas and Aboitiz Foundation. The project will enhance the production capabilities of the organization which are composed of farmers from Barangays Bato, Awihao, and Cabitoonan,” SKFA President Jean Hilo said.

According to TVI that it provided the organization with upgraded equipment and seeds to help maximize their production of pinakbet crops, comprising various vegetable ingredients in the dish such as eggplant, ampalaya, patola, and squash.

A study conducted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) pointed out that addressing food security starts from the ground. The FAO noted that the Philippines recorded the greatest number of food-insecure people in Southeast Asia from 2017 to 2019, which means approximately 59 million Filipinos suffer from moderate to severe lack of consistent access to food.

While the project helps to enhance the crop production of the farmers in Toledo City, it also creates opportunities for entrepreneurship in the future along with other enterprise development projects TVI has planned for 2021 onward.

Meanwhile in Pinamungajan town, TVI also turned over various welding tools, equipment, and materials to the Cebu Technological University (CTU)-Pinamungajan Campus in Barangay Pandacan, Pinamungajan, mid-west Cebu.

CTU-Pinamungajan Campus director Dr. Redjie Arcado said that the equipment will beef up the university’s capability to shape skills-oriented and industry-prepared graduates.  According to Arcadio, welding is among the most in-demand study areas at the campus with over 1,000 students are enrolled including those from the industrial technology and technical-vocational programs.

The CTU-Pinamungajan Campus is currently working on getting a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and later with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and with this latest project with TVI, this can greatly support the certification process, Arcado said.

TVI Deputy Plant Manager Noel Cabahug said that the project aims to provide quality technical education to CTU students that come from various areas in Cebu’s third district.

“This will help graduates of the university to gain an advantage in acquiring employment opportunities in different industries here and abroad,” Cabahug added.

Cebu’s 3^rd district representative Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia lauded AboitizPower, TVI, and the Aboitiz Group’s initiatives and added that the organization has always been a model corporate citizen not only here in Cebu and in the Visayas, but all over the country.

"You do not only advance business, but you always try in any way you can to advance the communities that you have graced with your presence.  We now feel what it is like to be in a community with Aboitiz here in Toledo, in Pinamungajan, and other neighboring municipalities," Garcia added.

AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Visayas, Inc. is the operator of the 340-megawatt Toledo Baseload Power Plant located in Brgy. Bato, Toledo City, Cebu. The facility is an 80-20 joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corporation and Vivant, Corp. respectively and with Therma Luzon, Inc. and Therma South, Inc., the three primarily compose the Coal Business Unit of AboitizPower. (Photos: TVI/Victor Anthony Silva)