Renewable energy solutions provider SN Aboitiz Power-Benguet (SNAP-Benguet) signed partnerships with its host communities and indigenous peoples organizations (IPO) for community development projects through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund. The signing of the Memorandums of Agreement (MOA) on February 8, 2022, benefited the barangays of Ambuklao, Tikey, and Tinongdan, as well as the municipalities of Bokod and Itogon, the provincial government of Benguet, Shakilan Ni Ikulos-Indigenous Peoples Organization (SNI-IPO) of Bokod, and Tinongdan Indigenous Peoples Organization (TINPO) which host the Ambuklao and Binga hydroelectric power plants of SNAP-Benguet. The agreements cover projects such as the ​purchase of school supplies, personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies, and provision of rice subsidy for barangay Ambuklao; construction of barangay sub-clinic, and improvement of Phase II irrigation system in barangay Tikey; assistance and maintenance of temporary treatment facility, refurbishment of barangay health clinics, and establishment of a barangay database system for barangay Tinongdan; and purchase of a lot for the engineered sanitary landfill in the municipality of Bokod; improvement of Malasin Isolation Facility III in the municipality of Itogon. Meanwhile, SNI-IPO inked an agreement on projects for culture preservation, the establishment of a nursery, provision of food supplement and vitamins for IPs, procurement of four coffee pulpers, and improvement of the water system; while TINPO's projects are the establishment of demo farm, COVID preventive programs, financial support to IPs, and the provision of transport service. SNAP-Benguet has allocated Php1.5 million for each recipient.

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Meanwhile, the provincial government of Benguet’s province-wide projects for the acquisition of equipment and medical supplies for COVID-19 are valued at PHP4 million, with CSR funds coming from Ambuklao and Binga hydro facilities. Melchor Diclas, Governor of Benguet, thanked SNAP and emphasized the significance to the province of the programs supported by the company through its CSR funds. He stated that SNAP assisted them in easing the burden of obtaining PPE for the frontliners at the time when it was most needed. Mayor Victorio Palangdan of Itogon, Mayor Thomas Wales, Jr. of Bokod, barangay captains Monroe Galasgas, Miguel Cosalan, and Edwin Atompag of Ambuklao, Tikey, and Tinongdan, respectively, as well as SNI-IPO Chieftain Julian Delico and TINPO Norberto Pacio, expressed their appreciation for the developments brought about by SNAP operations in their community. SNAP President and CEO Joseph Yu responded, saying, "SNAP is committed to the development of our host communities, and we are working together to address our shared concerns through the company's CSR program." In compliance with COVID safety protocols, all MOAs were signed at the recipients' respective office compounds. Since the pandemic last year, SNAP-Benguet's host communities have benefitted from 28 projects totaling Php14.5 million through the CSR Fund.

Photo Caption: Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas signed the Memorandum of Agreement between SNAP-Benguet and the province for the acquisition of equipment and medical supplies to support the province's COVID-19 response efforts.