SN Aboitiz Power-Magat (SNAP-Magat) underscored the importance of turning commitments into tangible and lasting community impact during its annual Host Communities’ Forum (HCF) held on September 8 in Banaue, Ifugao, and September 9 in Santiago City, Isabela.
Held under the theme “Transforming Commitments into Meaningful Change,” the two-day forum brought together around 153 representatives from local government units in SNAP-Magat’s host communities across Ifugao, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya.
In his keynote address, SNAP General Manager and Group Chief Executive Daniel Icasiano said the true measure of fulfilling commitments lies in whether they create meaningful and lasting improvements in people’s lives.
“Transformation is not what we announce. It is still different five years after we leave the room,” Icasiano said.
He cited SNAP-Magat’s Bridging Gaps in Higher Education through Tertiary Scholarships (BRIGHTS) and Partnership in Uplifting Upland Natural Resources, Livelihoods and Assets (PUNLA) programs as examples of initiatives designed to deliver long-term benefits to host communities.
Through BRIGHTS, SNAP-Magat has admitted 71 scholars and produced 37 graduates, while 23 scholars are currently enrolled for School Year 2026–2027.
Meanwhile, PUNLA has supported watershed and environmental rehabilitation initiatives in Ifugao. From 2019 to 2024, the program rehabilitated and restored 34.3 hectares of rice terraces, reforested and enriched 100.44 hectares of forest areas, and established five hectares of agroforestry farms. These efforts helped mitigate an estimated 6,722 tons of soil erosion across the province.
Under PUNLA-Upper Magat Phase 2, an additional six hectares of rice terraces in Banaue are being restored. The 2025–2027 program also targets the rehabilitation of 42.5 hectares of muyongs in Banaue, 42 hectares of rice terraces in Mayoyao and Hingyon, and the conservation of the Mt. Binahagan Micro Watershed in Lagawe.
Speaking on behalf of Ifugao Governor Jerry Dalipog, Chief Administrative Officer Rosemarie Lindawan emphasized the close relationship between the province’s ecosystems, communities, and SNAP-Magat’s operations.
She said the partnership must continue to evolve toward visible and meaningful results for communities, while the provincial government remains committed to maintaining a stable and supportive environment for SNAP-Magat’s operations.
Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Administrator King Webster Balaw-ing also expressed appreciation for SNAP-Magat’s partnership with the provincial government, component municipalities, and barangays.
“We commend SNAP for taking cognizance of their commitments and responsibilities to the communities,” Balaw-ing said.
For Ramon, Isabela Vice Mayor Dennis Jon Dela Cruz, the partnership with SN Aboitiz has brought noticeable changes to the municipality over the past 19 years.
“In 19 years of partnership, talagang naramdaman po ang pagbabago sa bayan,” Dela Cruz said, thanking SNAP-Magat for its past, ongoing, and future initiatives.
The annual forum served as a venue for SNAP-Magat and its host communities to reaffirm their partnership and discuss how existing commitments can translate into sustained benefits for local communities and the environment.
