Hedcor, a renewable asset manager of Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower), donated 5,000 Arabica coffee wildlings and 500 cacao seedlings to the highland municipality of Bakun, Benguet to help farmers scale production and take advantage of rising demand.

“[Despite] the fast-rising popularity of [Arabica] in the market, driven by its distinct quality and flavor, the supply remains limited,” explained Bakun Municipal Agriculturist Enrique Atelba. “That is why we are encouraging our farmers, with the strong support of our partners, to scale up production.” 

Bakun’s terrain, situated between 1,200 to 2,500 meters above sea level, offers ideal conditions for cultivating Arabica coffee, supporting a dignified and sustainable livelihood for local farmers.

“Hedcor's provision of Arabica coffee wildlings and cacao seedlings builds on the municipality's agricultural strengths, allowing our community to reach its full potential as a producer of high-value crops, including coffee, cacao, and fruit-bearing crops,” the local official added.

Hedcor also provided seedings of atis (sugar apple), lemon, rambutan, and lanzones, giving 500 of each. It also provided 250 sacks of chicken dung to enrich the soil.

The AboitizPower subsidiary also donated P1.3 million to fund watershed protection and community development initiatives in Bakun, focusing on reforestation and sustainable land management practices to preserve vital watersheds, which serve as lifelines for agricultural productivity, drinking water, and power generation.

“Conserving these watersheds is crucial for sustaining the municipality’s agricultural productivity, supporting power generation, and maintaining overall ecological balance,” said Hedcor President and COO Rolando G. Pacquiao.

Hedcor has over 45 years of experience in operating run-of-river hydropower systems, with facilities in Ilocos Sur, Mountain Province, Benguet, Davao, and Bukidnon. It recently added solar power to its portfolio of managed renewable energy assets.