Nearly 200 residents of a remote village in Libacao, Aklan, received basic health services and other assistance during a multi-agency outreach program the provincial government organized on October 14, 2026.
The 82nd Infantry Battalion (82IB) of the Philippine Army and Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI), a nonprofit organization based in Negros Occidental, joined the Aklan provincial government’s “Gobyerno sa Baryo” program in Sitio Taroytoy, Barangay Manika.
The team, along with other government agencies and partner organizations, traveled through steep mountain terrain and river crossings to reach the upland community, which sits nearly 500 meters above sea level.
Residents of Sitio Taroytoy have faced geographic isolation and security challenges linked to insurgency in the past. According to the organizers, unrest in the area prompted some families to evacuate, contributing to a decline in the community’s population and school enrollment.
During the outreach, HBONI and EYE-hEAR Foundation Inc. screened nearly 200 residents for eye and ear concerns. The team distributed 70 reading glasses, five pairs of sunglasses, and five supplies of ear drops.
Organizers also distributed 150 pairs of slippers to pupils of Taroytoy Elementary School, 100 loot bags containing candies and toys, and 75 hygiene kits for children. The kits included toothbrushes, toothpaste, face towels, nail cutters, sanitary napkins, and other personal care supplies.
The team also provided 45 packs of prizes for children’s games.
Meanwhile, Kenneth Bacala, HBONI founder and chief executive officer (CEO), said the partnership seeks to address the needs of children and farmers in geographically isolated communities.
“Taroytoy possesses incredible potential in its youth, its resident educators, and its agricultural products,” Bacala said, adding that the initiative aims to support long-term peace through community development.
Aside from the immediate assistance, HBONI conducted an initial assessment of raw materials and weaving skills among potential local producers working with abaca, banban, uway and tayok-tayok, or reed grass, to identify possible livelihood opportunities.
HBONI said its planned interventions under its “Project Mission Beyond Borders” framework include literacy support through its Masaya ang Magbasa Program, portable solar lights for households and students, livelihood training and product development, and feeding activities under its Paka-OWN Program.
The organization also aims to help develop local educators and residents with agricultural resources into community leaders who can support long-term development.
“Our mission goes beyond safeguarding borders; it is about building sustainable pathways of hope in communities that felt forgotten,” said 82IB commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Elmar Salvador.
The 82IB and HBONI said they intend to continue working together in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas, beginning with Sitio Taroytoy, to improve access to basic services and livelihood opportunities.
The activity was also conducted with the participation of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and other partners.*
