Hedcor powers progress in Benguet with ₱6M community share turnover

La Trinidad, Benguet (April 24, 2025) -- Hedcor, the run-of-river hydropower arm of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), has turned over more than ₱6 million in community shares to its host municipalities and barangays in Benguet. 

These funds are expected to help improve local infrastructure, enhance public services, and support livelihood programs that benefit thousands of residents across Benguet, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development, it said.

With nine run-of-river hydropower facilities operating in Benguet, Hedcor plays a key role not only in providing clean and renewable energy, but also in advancing community well-being through long-term partnerships with local government units. Through the community shares, which are part of the Energy Regulation (ER) 1-94 program of the Department of Energy, Hedcor has contributed to rural electrification, disaster response, educational support, and community-based medical missions—efforts that continue to strengthen both the local economy and social services.

According to Pamela Geminiano, corporate communications chief of Hedcor, the recent turnover of community shares marks another step forward their partnership with Benguet towns.  Sablan received over ₱2 million, while three of its barangays received a combined ₱1.3 million.

According to Sablan Mayor Alfredo Dacumos Jr., the funds will be directed toward projects that improve mobility, expand access to markets, and support agricultural development. “As the fruit basket of Benguet, our priority is agriculture. We aim to establish Sablan as a recognized agricultural hub. These funds will directly support our farmers and help ensure food security for our community,” he said.



In La Trinidad, the local government plans to use its community shares to expand rural electrification across 16 barangays, focusing on far-flung and mountainous areas that have long struggled with limited access to power.

“Many of our remote communities still live without electricity. This affects children the most, as they are forced to study and live in darkness,” La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda said. “With Hedcor’s support, we’re powering up these barangays and national highway communities. A portion of the funds will also go to scholarship programs for underprivileged youth who cannot afford to attend school.”

While Tuba intends to allocate its community shares from Hedcor’s Irisan 1 and Irisan 3 facilities to enhance local water systems, ensuring access to clean and reliable drinking water for residents. The local government also plans to implement infrastructure improvements that address flood-prone areas and strengthen road safety, particularly during extreme weather events.

These projects reflect the value of collaboration between Hedcor and its host communities. “These community shares do more than just provide financial support. They directly impact thousands of lives—strengthening local economies, improving public services, and helping communities become more resilient,” said Noreen Vicencio, General Manager for Hydro Operations. “By investing in our host communities, Hedcor is not only delivering renewable energy—it is ensuring that sustainability translates into real, long-term progress for the people of Benguet.”

Geminiano vowed, “as Hedcor continues to generate clean energy for the country, its support for Benguet’s rural communities remains unwavering.” She added, “Hedcor’s commitment to inclusive development ensures that the benefits of renewable energy go beyond power generation and are felt by the people who make it possible.”