Disaster response and preparedness are being strengthened in Pakil, Laguna following the recent widespread flooding that hit Metro Manila and some parts of the province, and especially with the town’s proximity to the Laguna de Bay.

Dubbed as PAKILigtas Disaster Management Program, the project was aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness among community members through training programs and climate change awareness.

“The training targeted schools and households which focused discussion on climate change, basic emergency response and preparedness, and distribution of Go Bags that contain essential supplies,” the statement from the Ahunan Power Inc. read.

Ahunan Power is a renewable energy company under Prime Infra and the developer of a large-scale pumped storage project in Pakil, Laguna. It collaborates closely with Prime Infra’s corporate social arm, Prime Infra Foundation, for the implementation of Tayo Na Pakil.

Following the heavy rains that hit the town last month, it said hundreds of residents received assistance and support through relief efforts, including feeding programs, distribution of relief packs, and provision of medicines.

Leah Mendiola, a teacher at Pakil Senior High School, earlier expressed gratitude to Ahunan Power and Prime Infra Foundation for the program’s initiatives that resulted in improvements within the school.

These include the provision of a canteen and repairs in their ICT room, which have greatly benefited the students. She also cited youth programs that help expound the students’ awareness on topics important for the community, such as climate change adaptation.

The PAKILigtas Disaster Management Program is one of the projects under the “Tayo Na Pakil” community development program of Ahunan Power Inc. which was launched three years ago.

One of the program’s flagship initiatives, PAKILight, empowers women entrepreneurs through training in candle and paper bag production. The program equips participants with the knowledge and tools to develop sustainable business models.

In 2022, over 70 women completed the training, leading to the establishment of Tanglaw Women of Pakil, a micro-enterprise now serving as a source of livelihood and pride for the community.

To date, the "Tayo Na Pakil” community development program has provided and continues to implement a wide range of social initiatives that benefit multiple sectors across Pakil town.

These include health and resilience assistance to more than 3,000 community members; sponsoring 60 scholars of technical-vocational education; conducting school-based programs for over 7,000 students; and extending support to nearly 100 trainees of livelihood and start-up capital programs.

“We have always sought to create a socially inclusive environment for our host communities, and we are proud to do so through the Tayo Na Pakil program. The program is designed to respond to the needs of Pakileños, offering a diverse range of initiatives that address various aspects of community life — from education to livelihood,” the company said.

“The strong support of our provincial stakeholders has been vital to ensuring the program’s effective implementation and to reinforcing our community engagement efforts. With this partnership, we are confident in helping shape a brighter and more sustainable future for Pakil,” it added.

Other projects implemented include medical missions, school-based feeding programs, eye wellness program for children and senior citizens, trainings on financial management, waste management programs such as seminars on Bokashi composting technical-vocational trainings in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) specifically on welding and operating heavy equipment, yearly participation in Brigada Eskwela with partner schools, and cleanup drives through community volunteers.

Tayo Na Pakil also focuses on long-term aspirations for enhanced energy security and sustainable growth through the Ahunan’s 1,400MW pumped storage power project in the town.