In a significant move to enhance community development, AboitizPower Renewables Inc. (APRI) organized an educational session in Tiwi, Albay, focusing on the effective use of energy regulatory (ER) funds. The event, held on February 10, 2025, attracted participants from various local and national government bodies, aiming to equip them with the knowledge needed to tap into these funds for community projects.
Kim Desepeda, APRI’s information officer, highlighted that the session was crucial for understanding the intricacies of ER funds, including key components, procedural details, and common queries. Updates from the Department of Energy (DOE) were also shared, particularly regarding the deadlines for submitting annual work plans.
Jocelyn Binalla, APRI’s Reputation Supervisor, pointed out that there are still unutilized ER funds available, which have accumulated due to delays in project liquidation by local government units. These funds, she assured, could be accessed once the necessary conditions are fulfilled.
The ER 1-94 regulation, established in 1994, mandates power companies like APRI to contribute 1 centavo per kilowatt-hour of generated electricity to host communities. This contribution supports a range of initiatives from development and livelihood programs to environmental and health projects.
To make the session interactive, APRI’s Reputation Management Team included a quiz competition, rewarding the winning team with a token of appreciation. The event also served to dispel myths about the ER fund program.
Wendy Bautista, APRI’s Reputation Manager, emphasized the company’s commitment to ensuring that communities benefit from these funds, not just as a compliance measure but as a genuine effort to support local development. Leonardo Robel, Jr., APRI’s Vice President for Corporate Services, spoke about the company’s plans to expand renewable energy assets while continuing to support community growth.
Looking ahead, APRI is set to introduce Project Aurish before the end of the second quarter. This initiative will feature an automated website, providing round-the-clock access to ER fund information for local implementers.