Originally a club of officers’ spouses, the club transformed last July into a full-fledged PNP OLC Foundation Inc. in keeping with the changing needs of the times, which has brought about rising numbers of policemen and women stricken with cancer and CKDs (chronic kidney diseases).
The foundation has been reaching out to the growing number of active and retired cops in the 17 regions of the country, who are afflicted with these lifestyle diseases that because of their stressful/ busy schedules and responding to the call of duty, they take shortcuts for their needs like eating fastfoods and even street foods most often.
Working closely with the PNP OLC Foundation, led by the petite but indefatigable PNP Chief’s wife, Mary Rose P. Marbil, is the PNP Health
Service, which provides the health kits, meds and diagnostics facilities and services, as needed.
The core objective of the PNP OLC Foundation is to help the PNP personnel—uniformed and non-uniformed personnel and their dependents who are in need. About 80 percent of those being assisted by the foundation are CKD and cancer police patients.
“We handpick only the critically sick because we have limited funds,” she said, adding that the funds are mostly donations by generous people and foundations and from fund-raising activities organized by the foundation.
The foundation provides those visited with some cash assistance and health kits through the LAB Virus Program. LAB means love and blessings and the word virus is for spreading the spirit of hope to people afflicted with critical illnesses.
The foundation raises funds through events like a fun run, shoot fests, golf and musicals and the regions are asked to raise funds for their projects also.
Because of the stressful nature of cops’ jobs and the convenience of fastfoods, it is inevitable that the number of those that would acquire cancer and CKDs would just keep increasing, which is why, she said, she asked the PNP Health Service to focus on an advocacy about living and eating healthy foods, if possible, to prevent these illnesses.
“We did three regions a week so we completed all the Police Regional Offices,” she said.. Since she has limited time to implement these campaigns (as her husband’s extension in February would lapse in June) she is urging the foundation ladies to take active roles in ensuring the continuity and sustainability of the wellness and lifestyle campaigns and the LAB Virus program.
Last year, since she was still in the corporate world, the foundation was able to do the LAB Virus programs in only seven regions. But since she retired in December and with extension last February 7 of PNP Chief Marbil, they are now moving faster to reach more cancer, CKD victims within the police force. “We did three regions a week, so we completed.” She hopes to do a round 2 of LAB Virus.
The foundation has worked an agreement with the Quezon City LGU to provide teachers (whose wages it would shoulder) for the Child Development Center, which was closed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, right inside Camp Crame. “This is about to reopen this March after the agreement with QC LGU is signed,” Mrs. Marbil said.
The Child Development Center is required from all government agencies under Republic Act 8980 or the Early Childhood Care and Development Act or the right of children to survival, development and special protection with full recognition of the nature of all childhood and its special needs and to support parents in their roles as primary caregiver and as children’s first teacher.
On the sustainability of the foundation, she said, the group is scheduled to meet with private foundations for potential partnerships to support and ensure the continuity of its programs for uniformed and non-uniformed personnel and their dependents.
She expressed the hope and her confidence that her successors would enhance the Foundation’s works, programs and activities for the benefit of those in the uniformed service and their dependents. “It’s a circle of happiness, if the cops are happy then their service to the people will also be happy,” she explained.
“It’s really in their hearts to serve. But the reality is they are always being criticized, they get disheartened,” Mrs. Marbil said. Asked if she can recommend something to the government for the welfare of PNP, she said, augmenting the budget and upgrading their health
facilities.
When her daughter passes the architectural board this June, she said, she might decide to design spaces (since Mrs. Marbil finished interior
design) and collaborate with her on projects, after stepping down from the foundation. But she is not completely closing her doors should the foundation ask for her help in continuing the projects she began.
In her youth, her entire clan would go to orphanages and other institutions and give gifts during special occasions. She also recalled that during the pandemic, she sold masks the proceeds of which she gave to the tricycle drivers, whose livelihoods were affected by the lockdowns.
As a parting shot, she said, “I want people to know that there is a foundation that is serving the policemen who are in the remotest areas and those in the “laylayan who are most exposed to hazards and risks but are the first to get bashed by people.”