CEBU, Philippines - GMA Kapuso Foundation (GMAKF) – the socio-civic arm of GMA Network – rounded out the first half of the year with several successful and valuable projects envisioned to uplift the lives of underprivileged Filipinos from all over the country.
At the start of the year, the Foundation extended much needed help to victims of Typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental and Compostella Valley. The team distributed relief goods and other materials that are otherwise not readily available and conducted three medical missions serving 2,765 individuals.
Going beyond providing temporary assistance, GMAKF also initiated the Silong Kapuso project to distribute roofing materials to more than 811 families to help them rebuild their homes and take shelter from the monsoon rains that were then affecting the said areas.
Meanwhile, the Ngiting Kapuso project brought smiles to 86 indigents, who each received a new set of complete dentures. For this year, GMAKF extended their scope and provided partial dentures to a dozen individuals. The yearly summer Operation Tuli, on the other hand, benefited 1,172 young boys who bravely underwent the procedure. For the first time this project was conducted simultaneously in 3 different cities namely Quezon City, Cebu City and Butuan City.
In April, GMAKF turned over 120 houses to selected families displaced by typhoon Sendong, completing the first phase of its landmark 180-unit housing project in Iligan City. The Kapuso Village stands on a three-hectare land situated closely to the original residential area of Mandulog, which was left devastated by Typhoon Sendong. 10 fully equipped Kapuso classrooms also stand on the same location, which, just like the Kapuso Village houses, have been recognized by local and international NGOs for their durability and top-notch design.
April was truly a productive month for the Foundation as it entered a joint agreement with the Department of Education and the local government of Davao Oriental to rehabilitate classrooms and build new ones as a result of the widespread damage of Typhoon Pablo. The first phase of the project was immediately completed in June covering seven refurbished classrooms and two newly constructed classrooms in four elementary schools in Davao Oriental, while an additional 28 new classrooms will be completed by end of July.
The opening of the school year also sparked new hope among 75,000 incoming grade 1 students as they were given backpacks complete with school supplies in fulfillment of the Unang Hakbang Sa Kinabukasan Project. The Foundation once again visited underprivileged schools in Metro Manila and in the provinces to further its cause for education.
The Foundation also continued with their year-round Bisig Bayan Health Projects that were implemented in partnership with various organizations and hospitals that share their vision of providing serbisyong totoo to 734 individuals.
Over all, GMA Kapuso Foundation was able to serve the needs of 88,000 Filipinos including those that benefited from the disaster relief programs, as a reflection of its strong commitment to public service.
GMAKF EVP and COO Mel C. Tiangco sums it all up: “2013 is shaping up to be another fruitful year for Kapuso Foundation. And we could not have achieved what we have accomplished so far, if not for the generous support and trust of our partners, donors and of course, the general public, who make every project, regardless of scope or size, possible.â€
For donations, interested parties may visit www.gmanetwork.com/Foundation. (FREEMAN)