Pagudpud wind farm delivers CSR project to host communities

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff reporter

Laoag City—The North Luzon Renewable Energy Corporation (NLREC), a joint venture of the Ayala Corporation’s AC Energy Holdings, Inc. (ACEHI), UPC Renewables, and the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PINAI) which recently put online an 81-megawatt (MW) wind power farm at Brgy. Caparispisan in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte delivered several goods as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) project to host communities.

Attended by the NLREC management and staff led by chief operations officer Miguel de Jesus, a ceremonial turn-over ceremony of goods worth approximately P11 million was handed to Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos and witnessed by several members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan at the Provincial Capitol auditorium.

The CSR projects affirms NLRE’s commitment to provide health, sanitation and livelihood assistance to host villages covering the municipalities of Pagudpud, Bangui, Burgos, Pasuquin, Bacarra and Laoag City where they built their own transmission line to deliver power to the grid. Among the goods delivered are packs of medicines, cement materials, toilet bowls and seedlings for Ilocano farmers affected by typhoon and several schools in need of public toilets.

Following the successful launching of the Pagudpud wind farm in November 2014, Mr. De Jesus said the company has struggled to comply with its commitment to host communities.

During the project launching, Ms. Marcos lashed out the company for their apparent failure to extend a helping hand to several Pagudpud residents who were affected by a typhoon.

Acknowledging the support of host communities and its local officials, Mr. De Jesus thanked the governor for reminding them of their commitment to deliver CSR projects. He assured that the company will continue to work with the provincial government to ensure the smooth delivery of CSR projects while they are still on the process of developing a more sustainable CSR program due to beneficiaries.

In her speech, the governor said she is delighted to receive the long-awaited commitment of NLREC which she said, “Will go a long way to farmers and those affected by typhoon.”

She hopes that the NLREC will continue to deliver its commitments as he urged them including other investors of the province to pay their taxes early and take advantage of the 15 percent discount should they pay taxes in advance.