GMA Regional TV remains committed to providing unparalleled community service to Filipinos in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao via its ”Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels,” which to date, has benefitted 11,850 families.
The Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels was launched in May 2020 as a mobile version of GMA RTV’s Kapuso Barangayan, which was originally a community activity held in different barangays across the regions. With the community quarantine, GMA RTV introduced “Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels” to reach more communities and directly provide residents the assistance they urgently need. The areas covered include North Central Luzon, South Luzon, Central and Eastern Visayas, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Southern Mindanao.
“It has been almost a year since we transformed our Kapuso Barangayan into a mobile activity to benefit our fellow Filipinos during this pandemic,” said GMA Regional TV and Synergy First Vice President and Head Oliver Victor Amoroso.
“No one has been spared and many families are still struggling to cope—most especially our Kapuso in the regions who have lost their sources of income during the pandemic. Nananatiling kasama po ninyo ang GMA Regional TV. We thank our partners in the local government and private sectors for joining us in this regional initiative. We are now on our fourth leg and we will continue to work hand in hand with the government and private sectors as we face these difficult times because of the COVID pandemic,” he added.
Just recently, the “Kapuso Barangayan” on Wheels won an Excellence Award in Communication Management under the Corporate Social Responsibility Division 1 category at the 18th Philippine Quill Awards. The Philippine Quill is considered one of the country’s most prestigious awards programs in the field of business communications. It also received a Special Citation merit at the 42nd Catholic Mass Media Awards in the Best TV Ad-Public Service category.
GMA RTV has already rolled out three legs of the said regional initiative. The first wave was held from May to August in 2020 with a total of 2,610 family beneficiaries. This was followed by the second Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels which saw 4,200 families gaining assistance from August to December. From December 2020 to March 2021, a total of 5,040 families were served by Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels. The fourth leg is set to be conducted this April.
Meanwhile, during its first Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels in the Bicol region, GMA RTV has already reached 840 families. In Barangay Pipian in San Fernando, Camarines Sur, the team met 26-year-old Cyril Flores. The wife of a farmer and mother of three kids said that the Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels was very timely for they are having a hard time trying to make ends meet during this pandemic.
In Central Eastern Visayas, a total of 2,450 families were assisted. One of them is 65-year-old Juanito Perez of Brgy. Inayawan in Cebu City. Perez has been providing for his family as a waste picker at the Inayawan dumpsite. Another recipient is Gloria Jumalon of Brgy. Ibo in Lapu-Lapu City. The 72-year-old woman lives in a small house while taking care of her 22-year-old grandchild with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy.
On the other hand, GMA RTV was able to assist 2,620 families in Western Visayas during the three legs of Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels. Here the team met 28-year-old Ronald Hollera and 65-year-old Nelly Piagola. Hollera, who hails from Brgy. Trapiche in Oton, Iloilo, has been paralyzed after being hit by a motorcycle last 2015. Nanay Nelly, on the other hand, is from Brgy. Bito-on in Jaro, Iloilo City. She is taking care of her 16-year-old granddaughter who was diagnosed with bone cancer.
In Northern Mindanao, a total of 1,680 families were the recipients of food packs and grocery items. One of them is the family of 49-year-old Castor Aranjuez of Barangay Canitoan, Cagayan De Oro City. Aranjuez, despite being an amputee, continues to practice his craft of welding metal to produce plant stands, dog cages, and the likes—his way to make ends meet and sustain his family.
In Southern Mindanao, GMA RTV was able to serve 2,140 families, including Merlita Lausa of Brgy. Kinawitnon, Island Garden City of Samal. The 51-year-old widow has been supporting her five children by offering laundry and mowing services.
On top of distributing essential items to thousands of families across the country, GMA RTV led various brief and relevant lectures on proper health and safety protocols. To further instill hope in the hearts of the beneficiaries, each pack of Kapuso Barangayan on Wheels items included notes with messages of encouragement from the anchors and hosts of GMA RTV’s newscasts and morning programs.
