The “Tayo Na Pakil” community development program, launched by renewable energy company Ahunan Power Inc. three years ago, has positively impacted more than 10,000 residents of Pakil, Laguna, through initiatives focused on education, skills development, livelihood, health, culture and community resilience.
Ahunan Power, a subsidiary of Prime Infra, is developing a large-scale pumped storage project in Pakil. The Tayo Na Pakil program is implemented in collaboration with Prime Infra’s corporate social arm, Prime Infra Foundation.
“We have always sought to create a socially inclusive environment for our host communities,” the company said in a statement.
“The program is designed to respond to the needs of Pakileños, offering a diverse range of initiatives that address various aspects of community life — from education to livelihood,” it said.
Ahunan Power said the “strong support of our provincial stakeholders has been vital” to the program’s success.
Since its launch in 2022, the program has provided health and resilience assistance to more than 3,000 community members, sponsored 60 scholars in technical-vocational education and conducted school-based programs for over 7,000 students. It has also supported nearly 100 trainees in livelihood and start-up capital programs.
Following heavy rains in July, the program provided relief efforts including a feeding program, distribution of relief packs, and medicine to affected residents.
Leah Mendiola, a teacher at Pakil Senior High School, thanked Ahunan Power and the Prime Infra Foundation for improvements to the school, including a new canteen and repairs to the ICT room.
She said youth programs help students understand important topics like climate change adaptation.
“You have always considered the future of our youth by providing the Youth Leadership Program for our students,” Mendiola said in a statement.
“Knowledge about climate change and adaptation has also been a huge part of our students’ development,” she said.
The Tayo Na Pakil program’s initiatives align with 13 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on quality education, good health and well-being, economic growth, and poverty reduction.
One of its flagship initiatives, PAKILight, empowers women entrepreneurs with training in candle and paper bag production and business model development. In 2022, over 70 women completed the training, leading to the creation of Tanglaw Women of Pakil, a micro-enterprise.
“Thank you for this opportunity. That you noticed us mothers and taught us how to help our families,” said Lea Carizo, a PAKILight participant.
Another key initiative, the PAKILigtas Disaster Management Program, strengthens disaster preparedness with trainings for schools and households on climate change and basic emergency response. The program also distributes Go Bags with essential supplies.
Other projects include medical missions, school feeding programs, eye wellness programs, financial management and waste management training and technical-vocational courses in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The Tayo Na Pakil program, whose name translates to “Let’s Go, Pakil,” aims to support long-term aspirations for enhanced energy security and sustainable growth, in synergy with Ahunan’s power project.
