AFP chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner and PNP-DPCR director Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo lead the multi-sectoral outreach program at the Pag-asa Island, which is located in the West Philippine Sea. (photo: Metrobank Foundation)

Residents of Pag-asa Island in Palawan were treated to free medical services and basic needs items while students were given free school supplies and vaccinations too following a multi-sectoral outreach in the area on April 20.

Police Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, director of the Directorate for Police Community Relations of the Philippine National Police (PNP-DPCR), said the outreach programs benefitted not only the 80 families composed of 223 residents but also teachers and military personnel stationed in the area.

Pag-asa Island is part of the Municipality of Kalayaan and is located 520 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa in the West Philippine Sea.

Okubo said the outreach program is under the Guro, Pulis, Sundalo na may Galing, Puso at Sigasig (GPS2) program which was spearheaded by the Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), together with the three alumni networks of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos— the Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators (NOTED), The Organization of Philippine Soldiers with Outstanding Leadership, Dedication, Integrity, Excellence and Responsibility to Society (TOPSOLDIERS), and the Police Officers Responsible for Organizing, Transforming and Empowering Communities (PROTECT).

“In continual celebration of its 45th anniversary with ‘A Heart that Serves’ theme, MBFI brought the GPS2 program to Pag-asa Island to bridge hope and assistance to the island residents facing difficulties with access to basic needs and services,” said Okubo who also heads PROTECT.

PNP-DPCR director Police Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo dicusses with local residents the programs and projects of the government and other partners from the private sector for the community in Pag-asa Island. (photo: Metrobank Foundation)

Part of the project are free medical and dental and free vaccinations for infants. Local residents were also given essential medicines, vitamins and eyeglasses.

Leaning kits containing pencils, papers, notebooks, plastic envelopes, folders, rulers, protractors, crayons, and clay sets were provided to the students. 

The teachers, on the other hand, received pens, markers, highlighters, expanding envelopes, and reams of papers.

All island residents were also given slippers and food packs while military and uniformed personnel received solar torches, solar flashlights, and toiletry kits to aid in their night patrols around the island. 

The items and food donations were provided by NOTED, PROTECT, One Meralco Foundation, Donate Philippines and the PNP Academy Alumni Association, Inc. through Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission Undersecretary and 2007 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino awardee, Gilbert Cruz. 

The residents of Pag-asa Island are all very happy especially the children who received toys and slippers. This is a big help to us considering our remote location,” said Ronnie Cojamco, the island coordinator of Pag-asa.

High-impact projects 

Aside from free healthcare services and donations, dialogues with teachers, local government unit representatives, community leaders, and civil society organizations to further assess the needs of the community. 

The results of the scoping will be the basis for the high-impact community projects to be conducted for Pag-asa Island residents as part of the phase 2 of GPS2 program in the area.

To identify the relevant training programs and other assistance needed by the schools, NOTED held consultation sessions with the teachers and engaged the children on the island gamified reading sessions and fun activities. 

Children at the Pag-asa Island were treated to games and and other activities during a multi-sectoral outreach program in the area. (photo: Metrobank Foundtion)

The Rotary Club of Makati Metro, represented by its president, retired general Raul Del Rosario PAF (Ret), who is also a former president of TOPSOLDIERS, provided gifts to the students participating in the games.

The delegation was led by MBFI executive vice president Philip Dy, joined by several Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos including NOTED president Dr. Ernelea P. Cao, TOPSOLDIERS president and AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., and Okubo.

They were also accompanied by Pag-asa island coordinator Mr. Ronie Cojamco and volunteers from Donate Philippines and One Meralco Foundation.

“The GPS2 program is a realization of our vision for the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos. Beyond prestige and recognition, our goal is to engage and empower our exemplary public servants to inspire and impact more communities towards nation-building. We are very delighted to work with our excellent teachers, soldiers, and police officers for this program,” said MBFI executive vice president Philip Dy.

Pag-asa Island is the second community assisted through the GPS2 program. 

The first outreach program extended help to schools in Marawi City in 2019 addressing the immediate needs of 201 teachers and 1,570 learners who were affected by the siege back then.