La Union, November 18, 2025 — Local government leaders, community organizations, and institutional partners gathered in La Union for the 2025 Culmination Day of the La Union Social Development Program, marking the close of a year of collaborative community development efforts led by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. with the support of Shell Pilipinas Corporation.
Held as a celebration of shared milestones, the Culmination Day brought together scholars, community volunteers, entrepreneurs, and partners to recognize achievements across disaster preparedness, road safety, skills training, enterprise development, and broader community support initiatives.
Strengthening Community Safety Through RESCUE and BIYAHERO
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of accomplishments under the RESCUE and BIYAHERO programs, which focus on strengthening disaster preparedness and road safety at the community level.
Given that Barangays Poro and San Agustin are surrounded by oil depots and major industrial hubs, building local emergency preparedness remains a critical priority. In partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection San Fernando City, a series of Basic Life Support and Basic Firefighting trainings were conducted to enhance community response capabilities.
The training sessions were attended by 30 Barangay Health Workers, sitio leaders, and barangay tanods from both barangays, equipping participants with essential life-saving and fire response skills aimed at minimizing risks in high-risk areas.
These efforts were followed by a separate Basic Firefighting training for 21 members of the Poro Railroad Track Neighborhood Association I, who requested fire extinguishers, and 18 members of the LGBTQ community and barangay officials from Barangays San Agustin and Poro, who requested drums to support localized fire prevention and response initiatives.
In parallel, road safety education reached 307 public elementary school students from Canaoay Elementary School and San Agustin Elementary School. The sessions strengthened awareness among young learners on safely navigating high-traffic areas such as Pennsylvania Avenue and San Francisco Avenue, helping instill road safety consciousness at an early age.
The program also featured the ceremonial turnover of fire safety equipment and road signages to partner barangays, symbolizing strengthened coordination among PSFI, Shell Pilipinas Corporation – Poro Terminal, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and local government units.
The vital role of the Bureau of Fire Protection San Fernando City was recognized for consistently serving as resource persons across all training activities. As shared by BFP representative FO3 Joey Calica Santos, “Andito lang ang BFP–San Fernando City. Handa kaming magbigay ng serbisyo para sa mas ligtas na pamayanan.”
Celebrating Skills, Discipline, and Dedication Through SKIL
“Today is a challenge on how we move forward, and for our partners, on how we can continuously support the students, scholars, and communities we have helped over time. This is not where it ends,” shared PSFI Program Director Ms. Raiza Cusi, underscoring the importance of sustained stakeholder collaboration in creating pathways to employment and livelihood.
The Culmination Day also honored 19 scholars under the Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) program, implemented in partnership with TESDA Regional Training Center I – La Union.
Graduates of the Automotive Servicing NC I program received certificates and starter kits worth PHP 8,650.00 per scholar. Beyond completion awards, all scholars were also recognized for excellence based on attitude and work ethics, academic performance, and practical application during training.
Empowering Local Enterprises Through Shell LiveWire
Community entrepreneurship took center stage with the recognition of enterprises supported under the Shell LiveWire Program. Participants underwent capacity-building sessions on entrepreneurship, business planning, marketing, and financial management before pitching their enterprises.
Two community enterprises successfully completed the full program cycle and received in-kind livelihood grants to support business expansion:
Kainan ni Aling Josie, located in Barangay San Agustin, a community eatery known for providing affordable meals, received an in-kind grant worth PHP 28,000.
Aela’s Garden, a hydroponics enterprise in Barangay Poro promoting backyard gardening, sustainability, and healthy living, received an in-kind grant worth PHP 23,800.
Their journeys highlighted the women entrepreneurs’ eagerness to learn and determination to grow small community enterprises into sustainable livelihoods.
Community Support Beyond Livelihood and Education
Beyond flagship programs, the Culmination Day also highlighted broader community initiatives carried out throughout the year. These included coastal clean-up activities at Poro Baywalk and Acapulco Beach in Barangay San Francisco–Canaoay, conducted in partnership with the Coastal Underwater Resource Management Action; Brigada Eskwela activities at San Agustin Elementary School and nearby host communities such as Santiago and Canaoay Elementary Schools; and support for various local social and cultural activities.
These efforts reinforced PSFI’s approach to development as a shared responsibility, grounded in partnership and sustained community engagement.
Honoring Partnerships That Make Progress Possible
The event concluded with the awarding of plaques of recognition to institutional partners who played vital roles in implementing the 2025 La Union Social Development Program. Honorees included TESDA RTC I – La Union, the Bureau of Fire Protection San Fernando City, partner barangay local government units, and Shell Pilipinas Corporation – Poro Terminal.
Testimonial messages from beneficiaries, community champions, and partners echoed a shared message: progress is built through trust, teamwork, and shared purpose.
As the Culmination Day came to a close, the gathering served as a reminder that while program cycles may end, the commitment to community development continues. Through sustained partnerships and people-centered initiatives, PSFI and its partners reaffirmed their shared mission of building safer, more resilient, and empowered communities in La Union.
