By Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, Chief Reputation and Sustainability Officer, Aboitiz Group and President, Aboitiz Foundation
This article originally appeared on the author’s Tribune.net column ‘On the G(ood) Side’.
Published on December 29, 2024
If the beginning of every year is associated with making resolutions, the final days of December are often dedicated to reflecting on the highs and lows of the past 12 months. As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to take stock of the strides made by Aboitiz Foundation in fulfilling its commitment to uplift Filipinos’ lives through education, jobs and climate action.
Creating meaningful and lasting change requires teamwork, which is why Aboitiz Foundation scaled up partnerships with stakeholders. By cultivating the culture of collaboration, we’re able to work with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure our programs reach more communities.
Education has always been at the heart of Aboitiz Foundation’s mission. The Aboitiz Future Leaders program continues to make a significant impact, supporting 123 new scholars this year across various universities in the Philippines. More than just providing financial support to students, the scholarship is about creating pathways to success and empowering the youth to become changemakers.
Since the program began in 2006, Aboitiz Future Leaders have graduated from college, becoming innovators and catalysts for progress in the workforce.
Aurora PH, Aboitiz Foundation’s initiative to connect last-mile schools to the internet through solar power, surpassed its 2024 pilot goal of linking 10 schools to the digital world. A total of 11 schools in remote communities now harness sustainable energy to access educational materials and vital resources. One of the project’s newest beneficiaries is Iram II Elementary School in Zambales. In partnership with Subic EnerZone, solar panels were installed on top of school buildings, providing a reliable power source for students and teachers.
Moving forward, Aboitiz Foundation aims to energize 300 last-mile schools to improve access to education and empower surrounding communities through access to vital services and livelihood opportunities.
Elevate AIDA has been a game-changer for women empowerment. This program, in partnership with Connected Women, provides training in artificial intelligence and data annotation to women from marginalized sectors. For 2024, a total of 1,800 women from various provinces, including the cities of Naga and Talisay and the municipality of Consolacion, successfully completed the program. Equipped with digital skills, the graduates can seek employment opportunities that allow them to earn a steady income while balancing their responsibilities at home.
Looking ahead over the next five years, Aboitiz Foundation plans to scale up Elevate AIDA to benefit 300,000 women, further expanding its impact and empowering more women across the Philippines.
In the area of climate action, 2024 marked the launch of CarbonPH, a large-scale, multipartite reforestation and watershed recovery project in partnership with the provincial government of Cebu. This initiative involves the reforestation and protection of the 29,000-hectare Central Cebu Protected Landscape, which serves as Cebu’s main water source and is home to several endemic species.
Beyond its mission to drive positive change, Aboitiz Foundation is committed to nation building through initiatives in education, jobs and climate action. 2024 was a testament to the power of partnership, with our programs inspiring innovation and creating lasting impact.
As we look ahead to 2025, Aboitiz Foundation’s vision remains clear: To continue building a better and more sustainable Philippines. We’re keen on forging new partnerships and sustaining our collaboration with long-time stakeholders to fulfill our vision of transforming more lives and creating inclusive growth.
