FIRST Gen Corporation, the country’s leading clean and renewable energy company, has completed the construction of two new typhoonesilient school buildings for host communities of its planned hydroelectric power plants in Bukidnon.
The schools were built as part of the overall school rebuilding program, launched in 2014 under First Gen subsidiary Energy Development Corporation (EDC), with support from various First Gen sister companies.
The newly opened school buildings for the Imbatug Central Elementary School in Baungon and the Impasug-ong Central Elementary School in Impasug-ong — were formally turned over to the Department of Education during simple ceremonies held at the respective schools on July 26 and 27, 2016.
Designed by third-party experts, the typhoon- or calamityesilient classrooms can withstand wind velocity of up to 250 kilometers per hour. The buildings feature cathedral-type ceilings, wider windows insulated roofing for better ventilation, concave-design blackboards, wall-mounted electric fans, LED lights, “genderized” comfort rooms and access for persons with disabilities.
The school buildings were turned over to the DepEd, complete with chairs and tables. Each building houses two classrooms with each classroom accommodating up to 60 students or a total of 240 students for both school buildings.
First Gen, through EDC, arranged and solicited funds for the projects from sister companies and affiliates. With EDC as project manager, the school rebuilding program was launched in early 2014 to help in the rehabilitation, originally, of areas hit by super typhoon Yolanda.
The program’s scope was later expanded to help alleviate an overall shortage in classrooms in the provinces. Once completed in late 2016, the overall program calls for the construction of 150 school rooms in 66 school buildings in 30 cities and municipalities in 11 provinces, including Bukidnon.
For the Bukidnon schools, funds were donated by Rockwell Land Corporation, a First Gen sister company that is acknowledged as the country’s foremost developer of luxurious real estate projects. Chairs and tables for the classrooms were donated by First Philippine Industrial Park, another First Gen sister company, which owns and operates the premiere 457-hectare industrial estate in Batangas.
“First Gen arranged the support for the Bukidnon schools as part of its commitment to be a responsible development partner for the host communities of its power plants, as well as a conscientious custodian of the environment,” said Dennis P. Gonzales First Gen vice president and head of hydro group.
In talks with Mindanao stakeholders, Gonzales stressed the low carbon emissions of First Gen’s power facilities. “All First Gen power plants run on clean or renewable energy sources with minimal if not zero carbon emission. Aside from hydro, these plants run on wind solar, geothermal, and natural gas, the cleanest form of fossil fuel,” Gonzales pointed out.
The Bubunawan project will cost at least $100 million and employ around 500 people during its construction. In hiring workers, FGen Bubunawan is prioritizing qualified residents from the host community.
Gonzales also highlighted the economic benefits of having the hydro facilities. “Mindanao suffers from recurring outages due to lack of adequate supply. Additional electricity supply from the First Gen hydro plants will entice the entry of much-needed investments that will, in turn, open up more employment and livelihood opportunities in Mindanao,” Gonzales added.
Local government units (LGUs) in Bukidnon will also benefit from local taxes and fees that the First Gen hydro project companies will remit to the province of Bukidnon and to the host municipalities. pr
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