Continuing their mission to support sustainable livelihood and improve the lives of host communities, GNPower Dinginin Ltd. Co. and GNPower Mariveles Energy Center Ltd. Co. provided 70 members of the Barangay Alas-Asin Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association with reflective stickers, defensive driving training and gasoline fuel assistance in an event held at the Barangay Alas-Asin Covered Court on Aug. 8, 2023.
The corporate social responsibility program called TODA MAX, with the support of barangay chairman Florante Malimban, aimed to equip tricycle drivers with proper visibility stickers, improve defensive driving skills and promote responsible road behavior.
The project which cost around P200,000 began with GMEC-GNPD employees seeing tricycles struggling to operate at night without proper reflectors. The situation has been considered a real road hazard that endangers not only the drivers themselves but also their passengers and fellow road users.
The company gave the TODA members reflective stickers in red, white and yellow. In his message, GNPD plant manager Anton Besaris expressed appreciation to the attendees for taking time amid their busy schedule to be there, because “being here meant you’re not working or earning.”
He reiterated the importance of road visibility, especially during the evening.
“We noticed a lot of tricycles operate during the night with poor lighting. It gave us the idea to donate these reflective stickers for you to use,” Besaris said. These stickers are intended to increase the tricycles’ visibility during low-light or nighttime settings and adverse weather conditions.
Another highlight of the program was defensive driving training conducted by safety inspectors Edgardo Cruz of GNPD and John Zint Cruz of GMEC.
The seminar focused on reducing driving risk, vehicle maintenance and care and having accident-free roads in Mariveles. It ensured that the drivers received not only the essential equipment but learned the proper road mind set as well.
Malimban extended gratitude to GMEC-GNPD, saying the company had done a lot for Mariveles, specifically Barangay Alas-Asin, and they would forever be thankful for these initiatives.
Malimban also challenged the TODA members. “Huwag nating ipag-walang bahala ang pagkakataon na mas matuto. Huwag nating sayangin ang mga pagpapalang ito. Ito ay para rin sa ating kaligtasan at sa kaligtasan ng ating mga kalsada,” he said.
GMEC-GNPD assistant vice president for community relations Arcel Madrid said, “Bilang mga taga-Alas-Asin, iisa lamang po ang kalsada na dinadaanan natin. Hangarin po ng aming kumpanya na maging safe ang ating mga TODA drivers, at nang sa gayon maging safe din po ang aming mga empleyado at ang ating mga pamilya,” said Madrid. “Maging maingat po tayo sa pamamasada, nang sa gayon ay makauwi tayo nang ligtas sa ating mga pamilya pagkatapos.”
As a token of appreciation for their active participation in the training, the company aided each TODA member with a P500 worth of gasoline vouchers, five-kilo rice packs, groceries and a first aid kit.
“Nagpapasalamat po kami, ang bumubuo ng TODA ng Alas-Asin, dahil sa event na ito maraming natutunan ang aming mga miyembro. Bukod sa natutunan, nagkaroon pa kami ng mga biyaya mula sa GNPD-GMEC. Sana ay hindi po dito matapos ang lahat. Sana po ay magtuluy-tuloy pa ang mga pagpapala sa mga darating na panahon,” TODA president PJ Ramos said.
GNPD and GMEC’s commitment to safety extends beyond the workplace. With the TODA MAX program in place, Barangay Alas-Asin is taking significant strides toward creating safer roads and communities.
GMEC. is a private limited partnership registered with the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission since 2007. It is a special purpose entity organized to engage in the development, construction, operation and ownership of the 2×345 MW clean coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan. It began commercial operation on Jan. 27, 2014.
GNPD a 2×725 MW coal-fired power plant in Mariveles, Bataan which is considered by far the biggest coal-fired power plant in the country, spanning 30 distribution utility contracts and two retail electricity suppliers. It operates under the private limited partnership of AboitizPower’s Therma Power Inc. and Ayala Corp.’s AC Energy Holdings Inc. and Power Partners Ltd. Co. Unit 1 of the project has been generating power since March 2021 and went into commercial operation on Dec. 2, 2021. Unit 2 successfully synchronized to the grid on April 23, 2022, and on May 27, 2022, it started to operate at its full load capacity.
