Representatives from EDC, NRC, Carlos P. Romulo Foundation and Ormoc during the virtual MOA signingIn March 1976, Energy Development Corporation (EDC) was born to help build the country’s economic resilience by harnessing power from indigenous sources to reduce its dependence on imported fuels. The company piloted its maiden geothermal project—the three-megawatt Tongonan power plant—in Ormoc, Leyte in 1977, making the city its first partner in helping build national resilience.

Forty-five years later, EDC is leveling up the partnership by adopting Ormoc in the Adopta-City program of the National Resilience Council (NRC) and the Carlos P. Romulo Foundation.

In a virtual memorandum of agreement signing ceremony in March, the four parties vowed to leverage each other’s capabilities for Ormoc.

EDC president and COO Richard Tantoco committed to keep helping Ormoc become resilient for the good of the Ormocanons and their neighboring communities.

The EDC president also offered to further expand their role in the partnership as the power company that provides 100% renewable energy to the province of Leyte.

“We’d like our geothermal facilities in Leyte to be the most robust power facility in the country so 2-3 days after a major disaster, the Ormocanons will look up and see that there’s light and know that they can begin rebuilding their lives. If we can help to prevent the Ormocanons from being repeatedly subjected to the attacks of climate change and worsening typhoons, we’re here to support and partner with Ormoc and NRC,” said Tantoco.

“Our work here in this partnership has a lot to do with valuing ecosystems services for climate change mitigation, adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We are well in line with the statement of EDC chairman Piki Lopez wherein he outlined a decarbonized and resilient future for the country using the word regenerative…,” said NRC president Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga.

Mayor Richard Gomez noted: “Ormoc is vulnerable to natural disasters, that’s why planning and foresight are very important, and partnerships like this are vital to us. Thank you, NRC, EDC, Carlos P. Romulo Foundation.”

“Last year, we recrafted our mission to forge collaborative pathways for a decarbonized and regenerative future. There are many, many opportunities for us to work in partnership with Ormoc City and NRC to be truly regenerative so that our people will be truly resilient going forward,” stressed Tantoco. (Story/Photos by: Frances Ariola)