Anchoring change through CSR

Anchoring change through CSR | Daily Tribune

When Sabin Aboitiz signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Cebu provincial government to jointly reforest local watersheds, it was more than a ceremonial gesture. It was a commitment to secure the province’s future water supply, protect it from storms, absorb carbon emissions, and restore biodiversity.

Those inked signatures marked the beginning of CarbonPH, a large-scale reforestation effort that will cover about 29,000 hectares of the Central Cebu Protected Landscape (CCPL), anchoring what Aboitiz describes as a “forest of change.”

Growing a green economy

CarbonPH is one of the four flagship corporate social responsibility programs (CSR) of the Aboitiz Group, implemented through its CSR arm, the Aboitiz Foundation. Sabin, president and CEO of the Aboitiz Group and chairman of the Foundation, signed the MoU on 22 August with the Cebu provincial government.

“More than planting trees, we are planting the seeds of a future where Cebu’s environment can thrive with its people,” Aboitiz said. “This partnership is a long-term investment in the well-being of our communities.”

The CCPL includes watershed forest reserves in Mananga and Cotcot Lusaran, the Buhisan Dam, and national parks in Central Cebu and Sudlon. It is Cebu’s primary water source, serving Cebu City, Talisay, Toledo, Danao, and several surrounding towns.

Forest cover in the area has been steadily declining due to agricultural expansion and livelihood pressures. Global Forest Watch estimates that more than 7,000 hectares of forest cover were lost between 2001 and 2022.

CarbonPH aims to secure clean water, protect endangered species, absorb carbon dioxide, and create sustainable jobs in forest management, eco-tourism, and agroforestry.

Local residents are being engaged as active partners, with the goal of developing a green economy that offers more sustainable livelihood options while promoting eco-friendly supply chains and natural sanctuaries.

Nurturing future leaders

Education is another pillar of the Aboitiz Group’s CSR agenda.

“I used to copy modules by candlelight,” recalls Junie, a public high school student from Bukidnon. He says his parents, both farmworkers, never imagined college was possible until a guidance counselor mentioned a scholarship supported by the Aboitiz Foundation.

“When I read ‘Congratulations’ in the email, I cried beside my father’s old radio,” he said. “Suddenly, the farm didn’t feel like the end of my story.”

The Aboitiz Foundation invests in scholarships, school infrastructure, teacher training, and science- and tech-voc-focused schools nationwide. Programs such as the Aboitiz Future Leaders Scholarship have supported thousands of learners, many from low-income families, aligning education outcomes with future workforce needs.

Scholars are enrolled in top universities and immersed in Aboitiz Group companies, allowing them to begin building careers early. The Foundation’s support goes beyond tuition, extending to learning facilities, teacher upskilling, digital tools, and, in some areas, school feeding programs.

Inclusive education, connectivity

For teachers like Liza, assigned to a last-mile public school, connectivity once depended on weather conditions.

“We used to lose signal every time the rain came,” she said, recalling how students had to hike uphill just to send assignments.

That changed with AuroraPH, another Aboitiz Foundation initiative that brings solar power and satellite Internet to off-grid public schools. “Aurora,” meaning “new light,” reflects the program’s goal of illuminating education in underserved communities, particularly those with indigenous learners.

Donor partners fund the equipment, while AboitizPower units provide installation and maintenance training for Department of Education schools. Connectivity solutions are supplied by Huawei and Starlink. AuroraPH supports both the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on inclusive education and clean energy.

Digital livelihood for women

The Foundation is also opening doors to digital work through its Elevate AIDA program, which trains women in artificial intelligence data annotation. AI systems rely on human-labeled data — from image tagging to transcription — to function effectively.

Data annotation requires no advanced coding skills and can be done remotely, making it accessible to Filipinos with strong English and analytical skills. In partnership with Connected Women and government agencies, Elevate AIDA enables women to participate in the growing global AI economy, providing income opportunities that are flexible, scalable and future-ready.

Together, these initiatives show how Aboitiz CSR is not just responding to today’s challenges, but anchoring long-term change — environmental, educational, and economic — across communities.