The gift of hope to Pag-Asa Island residents
One Meralco Foundation donates solar lamps in Pag-Asa Island, West Philippine Sea
Light Up Pag-Asa Island. One Meralco Foundation’s Light Up Pilipinas program reached the West Philippine Sea for the second time in 2024, bringing residents lamps they can use to be more productive in their everyday activities.
One hundred twenty families, teachers, and uniformed personnel in Pag-Asa Island, the only barangay in Kalayaan, Palawan, received solar lamps from One Meralco Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), in a recent community outreach in the island.
OMF’s solar lamp distribution project, named Light Up Pilipinas, participated in the Guro, Pulis, Sundalo na may Galing, Puso, at Sigasig (GPS2) program of Metrobank Foundation, Inc. to help provide the island residents access to basic needs and services. This is the second time the outreach activity was held in the remote Pag-Asa Island, located in the West Philippine Sea some two hours away from Puerto Princesa, Palawan via aircraft.
The solar lamps from the Foundation will provide light to guide fisherfolks whenever they venture out to sea and give uniformed personnel on duty on the island additional equipment which can help them in their monitoring duties.
Fisherman Jonel Rapols, whose family received a solar lamp from OMF, said the lamp would provide him light in the dark and when going out to the sea to fish.
For Jonel Rapols, a fisherman living in Pag-Asa Island, the solar lamp will help him when he’s out fishing and to check on his boat especially during the Amihan (northeast monsoon) season when the waves are strong.
"Malaking pakinabang po ito kasi lalo ‘pag nasa bangka, kailangan ng ilaw lalo ‘pag gabi. Hindi na rin gagastos ng pang-battery," the fisherman said, as he underscored how important it is for his family to own a solar lamp which charges for free when exposed to sunlight.
For the second time in a row, One Meralco Foundation is part of the outreach activity to provide essential needs and other supplies to Filipinos residing in Pag-Asa Island in Kalayaan, Palawan located in the West Philippine Sea.
Aside from the solar lamps, residents also received grocery bags, sacks of rice, and crutches and walkers for individuals in need from other donors who participated in the outreach. Children, meanwhile, received uniforms, dental kits, sports equipment, and loot bags. Various groups also contributed to donate equipment and books.
“Our kababayan residing in Pag-Asa Island may be isolated by distance, but they are not alone. They continue to demonstrate resilience and strength despite various threats. We hope that through this initiative, we can express our readiness to support and provide for their productivity,” OMF President and Meralco Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer Jeffrey Tarayao said.
“When different groups, both from the government and private sector, come together, we can spread the light further and be of service to more of our kababayan.”
Since 2021, the Light Up Pilipinas program have provided solar lamps to more than 8,000 families, fisherfolks, indigenous communities, forest rangers, soldiers, and those in underserved rural communities so they can be more productive at home and at work.