AboitizPower subsidiary Hedcor reinforces its commitment to inclusive growth by continuously providing its host communities with sustainable economic opportunities.
Hedcor, in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation, Aboitiz food business unit Pilmico Foods Corporation, Benguet Technical School, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Benguet, recently held a National Certification (NC) II Training on Bread and Pastry Production, which was participated by 25 members of its partner cooperatives in La Trinidad and Tuba, Benguet.
“We thank the Aboitiz Group for the assistance extended to us. We have truly learned a lot during the training sessions. The big challenge for us now is to apply these learnings so that we can be of service to our cooperative and to the community,” said Felina Mercoles, manager of Barangay Alapang Multi-purpose Cooperative (BALMUCO), one of the beneficiary cooperatives.
BALMUCO, Thanksgiving Multi-purpose Cooperative, and Lamut Multi-purpose Cooperative were provided with bakery starter kits after their members passed the certification training conducted by Benguet Technical School.
The kits included ovens, stainless working tables, bread racks, dough rollers, and bread showcases, among others. With these baking tools and accessories, Hedcor’s partner cooperatives will soon open bakeshops in their own communities. Moving forward, Hedcor will also provide the Bineng Women’s Association with bakery starter kits.
Apart from the bread and pastry production training, 18 other cooperative members were provided with sewing kits after passing the NC II training on Dressmaking.
These initiatives of Hedcor for the cooperatives in Benguet are aligned with the livelihood programs of the Provincial Government of Benguet, specifically the Livelihood Loan Assistance Program, which aims to provide additional income opportunities to more communities and budding entrepreneurs in the province.
Hedcor is the run-of-river hydropower arm of AboitizPower, operating 21 power facilities in the country with a total rated capacity of 245 megawatts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the combination of NC II certification with equipment donation create stronger outcomes?
A bakery starter kit without training produces limited outcomes — and training without equipment leaves graduates without a vehicle to apply what they have learned. The NC II certification provides formal skills validation that gives cooperative members professional credibility and establishes a quality standard for their products. The equipment enables immediate business launch. The combination produces graduates who are both certified and capitalized — a far more durable foundation for long-term business success than either intervention alone would achieve.
Who is Hedcor and how does it relate to the Aboitiz Group?
Hedcor is the run-of-river hydropower arm of AboitizPower — the energy subsidiary of the Aboitiz Group — operating 21 power facilities nationwide with a total rated capacity of 245 megawatts at the time of this report. As an AboitizPower subsidiary, Hedcor operates within Aboitiz Group communities in the Cordillera region, including La Trinidad and Tuba in Benguet. Its involvement in livelihood programs reflects the Aboitiz Group’s policy of requiring subsidiaries to create sustainable economic opportunities in their host communities.
What training was conducted for Benguet cooperative members and what did they receive?
Pilmico, in partnership with Hedcor, Aboitiz Foundation, Benguet Technical School, and TESDA Benguet, conducted a National Certification (NC) II Training on Bread and Pastry Production with 25 participants from Hedcor’s partner cooperatives in La Trinidad and Tuba. Three cooperatives — Barangay Alapang Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BALMUCO), Thanksgiving Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Lamut Multi-Purpose Cooperative — received complete bakery starter kits after their members passed the certification training. A fourth organization, the Bineng Women’s Association, was also committed to receive bakery starter kits going forward.
What equipment was included in the bakery starter kits provided to Benguet cooperatives?
The bakery starter kits included ovens, stainless working tables, bread racks, dough rollers, and bread showcases — the full suite of equipment needed to open and operate a functional retail bakeshop. This comprehensive kit provision is significant: rather than providing partial equipment that requires additional investment before a business can operate, Pilmico and its partners provided everything needed for immediate launch, reducing the barrier between training completion and business opening.
How does this initiative align with the Benguet provincial government’s own programs?
The Hedcor-Pilmico livelihood initiatives for Benguet cooperatives are directly aligned with the Provincial Government of Benguet’s Livelihood Loan Assistance Program, which aims to provide additional income opportunities to communities and budding entrepreneurs across the province. Alignment with the provincial government’s existing program framework means the initiative reinforces and amplifies an ongoing government effort rather than operating in parallel to it — maximizing complementarity between public and private sector livelihood support.
