Hedcor to hire Bakun folks for power generation

By Estefany Mae Tawagon

BAKUN, Benguet – Hedcor is set to provide jobs to residents here even with the Covid-19 pandemic which resulted in downsizing of employment.
    Maintenance of Hedcor’s 30-year old hydropower plants here is crucial to keep these running in good condition.
    This will generate much-needed jobs and income in the form of contract works which will be awarded to locals of the municipality. 
    Maintenance works include conveyance pipe replacement, weir desilting, wooden pole replacement, and turbine runner preventive maintenance.
    These are done regularly to ensure the safety of not only Hedcor's personnel on site but most importantly of the locals who remain trusting of the renewable energy we provide.
    The activity also ensures that the assets —hydro facilities and machinery — are in good condition to ascertain Hedcor’s unhampered operations.
    The construction of FLS Hydro, Lower Labay Hydro and Lon-oy Hydro and operation of these three Bakun hydro plants since 1991 have been made possible by skilled and dedicated locals.
    To date, there are 34 locals who Hedcor employees. 
    “Our commitment is to keep our hydropower plants fit for today’s competitive demands,” said Noreen Vicencio, Hedcor Vice President for Corporate Services. “With our long history of being Bakun’s partner, we are hopeful that, with the LGU’s support, we are able to continue providing assistance to the community in the form of reasonable voluntary shares, direct community projects, as well as Corporate Social Responsibility projects in partnership with Aboitiz Foundation for many years to come.” 
    In Hedcor’s 30 year history of operation in this town, the company had been the municipality’s biggest investor and the locals’ partner in development, and will continue to be so in spite of the downturns brought by the pandemic, Vivnecio said.
    “Aligned with our commitment to advance business and communities, Hedcor hopes that with its unhampered operations, the community of Bakun will be aided on its Covid-19 road to recovery.”
    Hedcor is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower. It specializes in generating renewable energy from run-of-river hydropower systems.
    Today, Hedcor manages and operates 22 hydropower plants located in Ilocos Sur, Mt. Province, Benguet, Davao, and Bukidnon.
    They continue to supply the country with 278 MW of clean and renewable energy.
    With 42 years of experience, Hedcor is one of the leading run-of-river hydropower operators in the Philippines.