By: Antonio Iñares - @inquirerdotnet
DAVAO CITY – Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) subsidiary Therma South, Inc. (TSI) completed its Carbon Sink Management Program (CSMP) by planting one million trees in Davao City, including areas covering the ancestral domains of indigenous peoples (IP).
Through a collaborative effort with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), alongside project partners including the Matigsalug Council of Elders Marilog District Davao City, Inc. and the Matigsalug Manobo Tribal People Council of Elders Davao, Inc., TSI successfully planted a variety of endemic, fruit-bearing, and high-value trees in Marilog District.
A carbon sink is anything that absorbs more carbon than it releases, helping lower the amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Along with the environmental benefits, the CSMP established and supported partnerships with diverse IP groups and communities in Davao City.
Since 2015, the program has collaborated with more than 500 farmers and IPs, resulting in the restoration and rehabilitation of over 845 hectares of their ancestral domain.
“This milestone reflects our advocacy of environmental responsibility and shows the positive outcome of strengthening collaborative partnerships with the indigenous communities. Together, we’re making a positive impact on carbon sequestration and fostering sustainable development while producing reliable power to Mindanao,” said TSI Vice President for Operations and Maintenance Abe Nisnisan.
TSI and RAFI also conducted various technical training sessions to educate and empower partner communities in farm planning, nursery establishment and seedling production, site preparation and plantation establishment and plantation maintenance and monitoring.
“Part of any tribal member’s duty is to foster the richness of both our cultural heritage and our ancestral lands. A tribe’s culture is deeply intertwined with the natural environment it inhabits. With this, we extend our gratitude to AboitizPower, TSI, and RAFI for their recognition and support in our journey to rehabilitate our ancestral domain”, said Datu Juanito Mandahay, president of the Matigsalug Council of Elders Marilog District.
At present, TSI and RAFI are collaborating with the Davao City Agricultural Office to further enhance the skills of IP farmers, particularly in cacao production, marketing, and networking.
This initiative aims to transform the CSMP into a livelihood program that sustainably supports the community.
Every year, TSI organizes and joins tree-planting initiatives in collaboration with government and non-government agencies. A location for a new CSMP is currently being identified for future plans.
