By Ladylyn Salvanera and Marilag Asebuche
Navigating the power sector can feel like wading through a maze of complex regulations, agreements, and compliance requirements. It’s a challenge familiar to many in the industry, with database management and file searches often resembling a frantic search for a needle in a haystack. Documents pile up across multiple unsynchronized databases, leading to frustrating data integrity issues. But, in true entrepreneurial spirit, the Regulatory Affairs Team at Aboitiz Power (AP) decided to tackle these problems head-on, aiming for a smarter, faster, and simpler solution.
AP Regulators, an innovative mobile application, was conceptualized to simplify access to information about Power Supply Agreements (PSAs), Ancillary Service Procurement Agreements (ASPAs), and Certificates of Compliance (COCs) in the power sector. The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance transparency and facilitate informed decision-making by transforming complex data into a user-friendly resource.
The app is a product of the design thinking workshop during the GT Hackathon, where developers envisioned an app that would be useful in the Regulatory Affairs team’s day-to-day activities. As Cherry Javier attests, FVP for Regulatory Affairs and AP REGULATORS Project sponsor, “Database management has always been our challenge. We have piles and piles of active documents sitting in NAC that we cannot dispose of. File search is a much bigger problem. I remember that we have already asked IT before for help. However, solutions are very costly and will involve other BUs in the process.”
The timing was perfect. The team had been tasked with managing all contracts for AP plants compared to industry-wide, a daunting job given the volume of data and the issues with unsynchronized databases. They realized a centralized app could be the key to managing PSAs, ASPAs, and COCs more effectively.
The Regulatory Affairs Team worked together to ensure all necessary data was integrated into the app. Team leaders guided the process, focusing on presenting information in a way that users would find most helpful. As the project advanced, they adapted their strategies based on user feedback, always striving to be open and articulate about the challenges and progress.
Initially, the goal was to create a centralized database for AP’s regulated contracts and permits. But the team soon saw the potential for a broader impact and expanded their vision to include an industry-wide list of PSA and ASPA applications.
Time management was a significant challenge. Balancing this project with their regular duties required careful planning and prioritization. However, the team kept their eyes on the long-term benefits, knowing the centralized app would eventually save everyone time. Manpower was another issue. Processing the vast amount of data needed for an industry-wide list was daunting, but they prioritized the most critical information, understanding this would be an ongoing effort.
Despite these hurdles, the team celebrated several milestones, such as integrating AP’s regulated contracts and permits into the centralized database and launching the AP Regulators app. Rowena Romero, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs – Gen and Project Team Lead, summed up the team’s sentiment: “We’ve always needed a solution to help us manage the extensive information we deal with. A central, consolidated, and credible data repository was exactly what we wanted. Thank you to the team for making the AP Regulators App a reality.”
This project – AP Regulators, showcased the team’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving in the face of challenges, ultimately delivering a transformative solution to enhance transparency and informed decision-making in the power sector, aligning with AP’s vision of being purpose-driven.
Ladylyn Salvanera, one of the project developers, expressed her gratitude to Aboitiz HR, “I want to express my deep appreciation for the AP HR team’s ongoing efforts to foster innovation among our team members through continuous learning, especially their conducted HACKATHON. I would also like to thank our team leaders and project collaborators for their time and effort on making this project possible. The pace of change in the world, driven by AI, is remarkable. Discovering that we can create an app without any coding knowledge is truly amazing. Witnessing our hard work pay off and seeing users appreciate the app is truly heart-warming. This transformation has ignited a spark of innovation within us, and we hope to contribute in our own small ways to the company’s goal of great transformation.”
Marilag Asebuche shared a similar sentiment, “As someone who doesn’t love coding, the GT Hackathon conducted by Globe together with the AP HR team has been an eye-opener for me. Never would I have thought that an app can be created using google sheets. The hackathon series is a testament of AP’s vision of being a tech glomerate. Not only does it involve team members who are tech savvy, but it is open to everyone who wants to learn and improve the status quo. Truly, a simple change starts within, hereby helping the company in achieving its great transformation.”
The development of the AP Regulators app was a fun and transformative journey, showcasing the team’s ability to adapt, innovate, and collaborate in pursuit of solutions that create value for the organization and its stakeholders. The app was not just a project but a pivotal moment for the Regulatory Affairs team in the Aboitiz Great Transformation journey. It exemplifies how innovation, collaboration, and adaptability can drive significant improvements and create lasting value.
