Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) is committed to harmonizing industrial development with environmental preservation while uplifting its host communities. Guided by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the company embraces a corporate mission of shared prosperity and progress.
As one of the Philippines’ largest power producers and distributors, AboitizPower works to Transform Energy for a Better World—benefiting its customers, the environment, and the communities that house its operations.
SDG 14: Life Below Water
In 2024, AboitizPower brought together diving enthusiasts known as Scubasureros—a combination of “scuba divers” and “basureros” (garbage collectors)—to dive at the jetty of its 340-megawatt Therma Visayas power plant. Situated on Cebu Island’s western coast, the plant borders the Tañon Strait Protected Seascape, the Philippines’ largest marine protected area spanning 534,589 hectares.
“Usually, in other areas, we already see trash on the way to the dive site. But before the dive in the power plant jetty, we didn’t see any trash,” said Agnes Sabonsolin-Bautista, a diver and marine biologist. “During the dive, the reef was pretty clean, and in the rock and rubble area, a lot of new coral growth was observed. We saw several fish species too.”
“When we volunteered for this Scubasurero dive, our assumption was that we’d be collecting trash underwater. We thought the columns of the jetty would be entangled with a lot of trash,” added Roxie Diaz, another marine biologist. “But when we went down, it was the exact opposite. Instead of trash, we found a thriving ecosystem instead.”
A Marine Biodiversity Assessment Report by environmental firm Ridge to Reef confirmed their observations. The report identified 56 fish species residing in coral reefs near the power plant and documented six seagrass species, 28 genera of phytoplankton, and 15 species of macroinvertebrates in the area. To date, 14 mangrove species have also been recorded along the coastline.
These findings reflect Therma Visayas’ regular monitoring of marine biodiversity within its site’s vicinity. The plant complies with its Environmental Compliance Certificate and implements environmental plans to protect coastal areas and waters. In addition, Therma Visayas conducts regular coastal cleanups with local communities, collecting over 9,300 kilograms of trash from foreshore areas since 2022.
“This shows how Therma Visayas is a partner when it comes to resource management, protection, and preservation in the area where they operate,” Diaz said. “We see how they take care of the sites where their structures are, as well as fulfill their social responsibilities to the community.”
“The power plant has a coastal resource management program, which includes our information, education, and communication campaign for our host community regarding solid waste management and policies on the Strait Protected Seascape,” said Emalyn Sevilla, Environmental Supervisor at Therma Visayas. “We also support the livelihood of our local fisherfolks through training like how to build and maintain fiberglass boats, done in partnership with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.”
The Scubasurero project is managed in collaboration with several agencies including the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Tañon Strait Protected Seascape; Toledo’s City Environment & Natural Resources Office; Bantay Dagat; and the Philippine Coast Guard. Since 2022, Scubasureros—composed of marine biologists, Therma Visayas team members, and volunteers—have explored submerged coastal areas while leading underwater clean-up efforts. Dives at Bato Marine Sanctuary have resulted in nearly two tons of plastic waste collected.
Between 2017 and 2023, AboitizPower contributed to SDG 14 by conducting 246 coastal and river cleanup activities, resulting in 62,847 kilograms of waste collected.
SDG 15: Life on Land
AboitizPower also promotes biodiversity conservation on land as part of its sustainability initiatives. From 2017 to 2023 alone, it planted over 2.5 million trees across 6,127 hectares nationwide. In 2024, AboitizPower’s business units continued scaling these efforts by working with local communities to expand carbon sequestration activities while providing livelihood opportunities.
In Davao City’s Marilog District—home to Indigenous peoples’ ancestral domains—Therma South Inc., an AboitizPower thermal power plant, completed its years-long Carbon Sink Management Program by planting one million trees in partnership with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.
A carbon sink absorbs more carbon than it releases into the atmosphere.
Since 2015, this program has involved more than 500 farmers and Indigenous peoples (IPs), restoring over 845 hectares of ancestral lands. The initiative also includes technical training sessions in farm planning; nursery establishment; seedling production; plantation maintenance; and monitoring.
Meanwhile, in Cebu Province, Therma Visayas reached its ten-year Carbon Sink Management Program goal by planting one million trees as of December 2024. This initiative spanned ten cities across Cebu Province in collaboration with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and over 400 tree farm partners, who nurtured native tree seedlings while earning livelihood income.
Farmers benefit not only from payments for seedling maintenance but also from additional income generated by fruit-bearing trees such as Kakaw (cacao), Coffee, Rambutan, Lanzones (langsat), Avocado, and Guyabano (soursop). Training programs ensure sustainability for these efforts.
Additionally, AboitizPower’s Visayan Electric Company adopted 150 hectares within Buhisan Watershed Forest Reserve—a key water source for Cebu City—for rehabilitation under its reforestation program.The reserve is part of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape and provides water to Cebu City. The majority of the adopted land area has already been populated with Narra, Taloto, Mango, Jackfruit, and other trees, with local residents serving as its frontline caretakers and gardeners.
AP Renewables Inc., (APRI) an AboitizPower geothermal energy producer, adopted a 10-hectare forest in Sitio Panal, Tiwi, Albay and another 10 hectares in Mount Makiling — both areas within its host community. Together with the National Power Corporation, non-governmental organizations, and the local community, APRI planted Narra seedlings and some fruit-bearing trees to reforest and rehabilitate the adopted areas. By 2025, the goal is to achieve an 80% survival rate of the over 24,000 seedlings planted.
In Zambales Province’s mountainous regions inhabited by Aeta communities living near Preda Foundation Inc., AP Renewable Energy Corporation (APREC) donated 5,000 fruit-bearing saplings such as Calamansi (lime) Rambutan & Lanzones trees aimed at erosion control & livelihood support.
From seas to trees, AboitizPower recognizes the importance of harmonizing industrial development and environmental preservation, underlining the ongoing efforts that make it a consistent reality. It believes that honoring such responsibilities, while also elevating the host community, is integral to AboitizPower’s operations and its purpose of Transforming Energy for a Better World.
