Safe childbirth in island health station now possible in Barangay Caponayan
Safe childbirth is now possible in the island community’s health center of Barangay Caponayan in the islands of Cuyo, Palawan after One Meralco Foundation (OMF), the corporate social responsibility arm of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco), energized the facility using solar energy through its Rural Health Center Electrification Program.
On the afternoon of July 29, a new chapter began for Barangay Caponayan. Sonia Agawin, a resident, gave birth to her youngest daughter, Danica, marking the first delivery in the newly energized health station. With electricity from the sun, the midwife and nurse on duty were able to work with ease. Light allowed them to move freely even as night fell, while electricity allowed them to boil water and ensure all medical tools were properly sterilized. The newly renovated health station, with its improved ventilation, provided much-needed comfort for Sonia, her baby and the healthcare team.
Before the health center’s electrification, expectant mothers like Sonia must travel to Cuyo town proper—a two-hour boat ride one way—a month before their due date to ensure a safe delivery at the Cuyo District Hospital. This meant significant financial burden for their families, who had to cover the cost for their temporary stay and a P2,000 one-way boat rental.
Now, with an energized health station, the healthcare workers are better equipped to handle emergencies and provide lying-in services for residents who need not travel far for essential services.
"Ramdam mo 'yung kumpyansa na mai-deliver ng safe ang bata dahil alam mong mas accessible na ang mga kailangan sa panganganak. Ibang kumpyansa ang dulot ng may liwanag na. Mas sure ako sa aking galaw, hindi hassle maghanap ng mga gamit, at mabilis maka-sterilize ng gamit," said midwife Jenie May Nadayao, who has been working as a healthcare worker in Barangay Caponayan since 2023.
Barangay Caponayan Health Station was energized by OMF in June 2025 through funds raised from the 2024 Meralco Golf Cup. The electrification of rural health centers and barangay health stations was started by the Foundation to help enable the delivery of improved medical services in rural barangays. Since 2022, the program has helped more than 21,000 residents in rural communities with energized health stations and centers in Rizal, Quezon, Palawan Iloilo, Sarangani, and South Cotabato.
“By energizing rural health stations, we do more than just upgrading infrastructures. Electrification paves the way for quality healthcare that replaces the concerns of long and risky journeys of expectant mothers with the comfort of a safe childbirth. It also boosts the confidence of our rural and barangay health workers knowing that they can now care for their patients even in the remotest of barangays in the country," OMF President Jeffrey O. Tarayao said.