By Apo Agua and Aboitiz Eyes Team

August 2021 marked seven years since the formal incorporation of Apo Agua, the Aboitiz Group’s first major PPP (public-private partnership) infrastructure project under Aboitiz InfraCapital. The company aims to provide sustainably sourced surface water through its Davao City Bulk Water Supply Project (DCBWSP), one of the Philippines' largest private bulk water supply facilities that will deliver over 300 million liters per day for the people of Davao City. And despite the challenges from COVID-19, mainly on the ongoing construction activities, Apo Agua has continued to serve its host communities through wide-ranging corporate social responsibility efforts that include scholarship programs and its watershed rehabilitation partnership with the Davao City Water District.

Workforce Remobilization

The imposition of ECQ in 2020 along with restrictions on the movement of people significantly impacted the local communities in Davao City, with many laborers and skilled workers from local plantations out of work as the lockdown wore on. When Apo Agua resumed work on its bulk water project, they saw the need to ramp up manpower in order to expedite construction and recover lost time from the lockdowns. The company partnered with its host communities as well as the Davao City government and its Public Employment Services Office for virtual job fairs and barangay recruitment activities to bring in much needed skilled workers.

To date, Apo Agua’s Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Contractor J.V. Angeles Construction Corporation (JVACC) has over 4,800 workers on the project which is double the manpower before the pandemic. More than 50% of them were sourced from partner barangays situated along the treated water pipelines and other project components. Most if not all had lost their livelihood due to COVID’s economic impact.

**Creating livelihood opportunities.** Apo Agua partnered with LGUs and agencies to facilitate virtual job fairs and recruitment activities in order to provide employment to members of host communities.

**Creating livelihood opportunities.** Apo Agua partnered with LGUs and agencies to facilitate virtual job fairs and recruitment activities in order to provide employment to members of host communities.

Seeking to provide meaningful employment, Apo Agua arranged for the recruits to undergo TESDA training to equip them with skills much needed for the project like welding, scaffolding, and storage. One of them is Jojo Demayo from Baguio District who used to be a jeepney driver and now a watchman for the project.

“This job has really helped us. I get to provide for my family, especially things my children need for school and our home,” Jojo shares. “I’m grateful Apo Agua’s project reached our community. It’s been a great help to all of us who work here and our families.”

Aside from directly supporting host barangays through its workforce mobilization programs, the construction activities have spurred the local economy, helping surrounding small businesses — such as sari-sari stores and lodging — thrive.

**Gainfully employed.** Before joining Apo Agua as a watchman, Jojo Demayo was a jeepney driver until the pandemic negatively impacted his livelihood.

The Aboitiz Group is committed and true to its promise of improving the lives of the people at Sitio Maligatong through making way for an accessible, affordable, and reliable power.

Energizing Through #OneAboitiz In Apo Agua

It is worth noting how even before the DCBWSP begins operations, Apo Agua made early and significant strides in responding to the needs of communities within the project work sites, and this is especially true for residents of Purok Maligatong in Barangay Tawantawan, the community where the water intake weir is located. In the lead up to the project’s construction phase, Apo Agua took advantage of the #OneAboitiz mindset of maximizing results through shared vision, resources, and capabilities. The company partnered with Davao Light to connect the community to the grid and bring in a stable supply of electricity needed to power construction activities.

Electric poles were erected in Purok Maligatong in July 2020 as part of Davao Light’s rural electrification program, paving the way for its residents to finally apply for household connections to the grid while their barangay was illuminated with street lights for the first time.

**#OneAboitiz in action.** Apo Agua partnered with DavaoLight to *light up* the residents of the Purok Maligatong in Barangay Tawantawan—the community where the water intake weir is located.

**#OneAboitiz in action.** Apo Agua partnered with DavaoLight to *light up* the residents of the Purok Maligatong in Barangay Tawantawan—the community where the water intake weir is located.

“As someone who has been involved since its conceptualization, negotiation, up to the execution, it was very fulfilling for me to see how this project has materialized. Living up to our purpose to drive change for a better world by advancing business and communities, the Aboitiz Group is committed and true to its promise of improving the lives of the people at Sitio Maligatong through making way for an accessible, affordable, and reliable power,” said Jeryl Regulacion, Apo Agua Technical Engineer.

We endeavoured to build tight-knit relationships with the barangays so that we can understand their inherent challenges.

Opportunity For The Brightest Minds

Aside from infrastructure development and livelihood programs, the company puts emphasis on improving lives through education. Since 2019, Apo Agua has been providing high school financial assistance and college scholarships to the brightest young minds from the project’s surrounding communities.

What’s more, the company goes above and beyond to support the scholars throughout their entire educational journey. The student-beneficiaries are carefully selected based on the ones who are in most need of financial support, after which, Apo Agua covers for their tuition fees, uniforms, and books to ensure that the students can fully focus on their learnings.

Scholar Xam Tero is one of over 30 student beneficiaries who are enjoying Apo Agua's holistic scholarship program, which seeks to cover the entire cost of their educational journey.

And for scholars like Xam Kenobi Tero, Apo Agua’s program has been nothing short of a blessing as it has enabled him to prioritize his studies without having to worry about the additional costs of pursuing education.

“The Apo Agua scholarship program is impressive. Everything is taken care of by the company and all I need to do is focus on my studies. Also, the assigned personnel are very approachable. They also help us when we experience challenges in our studies and in our personal lives. They provide motivational talks to secure our wellbeing, especially our mental health,” he noted.

Xam is among 30 scholars currently being supported by Apo Agua's program that is a mix of 15 college and 20 high school students. This number is expected to grow in the coming years.

“This scholarship is the best and I am blessed beyond measure being a part of the Apo Agua scholars, and with that I am going to do the best I can to be a good example or role model for others to see that everything is possible as long as you’re willing to give it your best. To Apo Agua, daghang salamat!” Xam said.

A Long-Term Partner Of The Community

Understanding its role as a long-term partner of the community, Apo Agua will continue to refine its CSR projects in order to address the most pressing needs of the people and further extend its aid to more members of the community.

“One of our key strategies is to focus on CSR activities that the barangays actually need compared to what projects we think the barangay needs,” explained Apo Agua Operations Head Shake Tuason. “To achieve this, we endeavoured to build tight-knit relationships with the barangays so that we can understand their inherent challenges and tailor fit our programs to what is most important and beneficial to them.”

**Understanding the needs of the community.** (Left) Printer and Projector units were donated to the 'Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay' Baguio District; (Center) Apo Agua and local representatives try out newly-installed handwashing facilities; (Right) Tree-planting in Brgy. Wines, joined by representatives from AAII, DENR, IDIS, Bantay Bukid, DSWD, PNP, and barangay volunteers.

**Understanding the needs of the community.** (Left) Printer and Projector units were donated to the 'Revitalized Pulis sa Barangay' Baguio District; (Center) Apo Agua and local representatives try out newly-installed handwashing facilities; (Right) Tree-planting in Brgy. Wines, joined by representatives from AAII, DENR, IDIS, Bantay Bukid, DSWD, PNP, and barangay volunteers.

Through this strategy, Apo Agua has been able to create a more focused approach to its CSR efforts. In the past year alone, the company has donated printer sets to assist schools in their modular learning and expanded its high school financial assistance which has now doubled the number of student beneficiaries since its inception. In helping its partner barangays fight COVID, the company poured its support through the donation of PPEs and facemasks.

Moreover, Apo Agua will continue to collaborate with different Aboitiz business units to deliver more impactful and holistic projects in the coming year. “We are partnering with Pilmico to provide layer kits and technical training to coops in our host community, which will ultimately go a long way into helping augment their income and livelihood,” he adds.

As the construction of Apo Agua progresses steadily, so too will new opportunities emerge which will be beneficial to its partner barangays. “We expect to focus more heavily on watershed management initiatives since our operational performance depends on the ability of the watershed to provide a clean and reliable source of surface water,” Shake shared.

To support this, Apo Agua is launching its holistic watershed management program that includes expanded accident insurance coverage to Bantay Bukid volunteers and equipping them with mobile phones, battery kits, and rain coats, as well as in facilitating a long-term tree nurturing program and rolling out IEC campaigns in host barangays focused on biodiversity and water conservation, and long-term tree nurturing program.

“We don't want to focus on one-off programs; we want to deliver sustainable solutions and livelihood opportunities,” Shake asserted. "What's really important to us [at Apo Agua] is sustainable infrastructure development that enables economic growth. For us, in the Aboitiz Group, advancing business and communities is really part of our DNA."