Davao del Sur uses Community Share from AboitizPower's Therma South for Plant Nursery

Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the rehabilitated plant nursery facility. Provincial Administrator of Davao Del Sur Atty. Herbert Gonzales and TSI Facility Head JP Pantino, led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly improved plant nursery facility of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) in Davao del Sur.

With the help of Aboitiz Power Corporation subsidiary Therma South Inc. (TSI), a newly improved plant nursery was recently opened to help support the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) of Davao del Sur. The renovated facility, funded by ER 1-94 shares amounting to P940,000, is poised to support environmental protection and climate resiliency in the region.

The rehabilitated facility will house various tree seedlings that are intended for reforestation activities across the province. It includes a propagation area for starting seeds and cuttings, dedicated growing areas for different plant types, and essential storage and workspace structures.

"This plant nursery is not only a product of compliance, but more importantly, a product of shared vision to foster environmental protection, sustainable development, and strengthen climate resiliency at the local level," said Department of Energy Mindanao Field Office Director Engr. Nilo Geroche. "I commend AboitizPower for its commitment to responsible energy development, and we recognize the Province of Davao del Sur for embracing this opportunity to enhance this environmental program and community-based greening effort."

"This facility represents our partnership and promotes environmental protection, as well as assists or provides local reforestation projects given to our beneficiaries," added PENRO Provincial Government Department Head Dulcessima Padillo.

Energy Regulations 1-94, or ER 1-94, mandates that host communities receive a centavo for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) sold by power plants situated in their area. These funds are intended to support electrification, livelihood and community development, reforestation, watershed management, climate change resiliency, health service enhancement, and/or public service facilities. The policy guidelines fall under the Department of Energy Act of 1992 in conjunction with the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA).

Global Forest Watch (GWF) data reveals that while Davao del Sur once boasted 223,000 hectares of natural forest, covering over 37% of its land area, the province lost 677 hectares of this vital resource in 2024 alone. This was primarily driven by conversion to permanent agriculture, settlements, infrastructure, and hard commodity extraction, worsened by temporary disturbances like logging, wildfires, and shifting cultivation. 

TSI has been proactively engaged in reforestation efforts through its Carbon Sink Management Program (CSMP). In 2023, TSI successfully planted one million trees across an estimated 1,000 hectares in Marilog, Davao City. This project promoted biodiversity protection, improved watershed management, and provided crucial community and other ecosystem services to more than 200 partners from various indigenous peoples groups.

These beneficiaries received comprehensive training in sustainable land management, covering project orientation and farm design, activities that strengthen People's Organizations (POs), seedling production and nursery management, proper plantation establishment, and cacao management.

TSI also collaborates with Lunaw Dabaw, a non-government organization in Davao City specializing in native trees, to continuously monitor seedling growth and ensure their long-term survival.