Lopez-led First Gen Corp. has earned a Medal of Recognition for Enterprise Development from the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF), highlighting the company’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development through its livelihood initiative for the Mamanwa indigenous people in Agusan del Norte.
The award, presented on 1 July during LCF’s annual conference themed “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity for Shared Prosperity,” acknowledges First Gen’s pivotal role in organizing a grassroots social enterprise—the Maraiging Mamanwa Farmers Skilled Workers Association (MAMAFASWAS)—to uplift a marginalized community in the town of Jabonga.
LCF, a respected collective of corporate foundations promoting strategic CSR, commended First Gen’s collaboration with the SEARCH Foundation, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Since 2021, this partnership has revived traditional Mamanwa weaving and launched other livelihood ventures, resulting in an over 800 percent income growth for MAMAFASWAS members—from ₱30,000 in 2022 to over ₱276,000 in 2024.
First Gen senior vice president Dennis P. Gonzales emphasized the synergy between the company’s clean energy expansion and community investment, saying: “With the hydroelectric project in Jabonga, we’re not just investing in renewable energy infrastructure; we’re investing in communities.”
The award also underscores the corporate significance of First Gen’s social efforts as part of its broader strategy to build 13 gigawatts of clean energy capacity by 2030, reinforcing its leadership in renewable and low-carbon power generation in the Philippines.
