Story by Hannah Raven Gutierrez, PSFI Project Officer
For residents of Barangay Libjo in Batangas City, a community medical-dental mission brought consultations, dental care, health screening, and essential medicines closer to home.
Held on September 26, 2026, at the Barangay Libjo Multipurpose Covered Court, the activity served 243 beneficiaries, including senior citizens and children. Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) organized the mission through its Reliable Access to Community Healthcare (REACH) initiative under the Community Activity Support (CAS) program, bringing together healthcare partners, community leaders, and volunteers in celebration of Volunteerism Day.
With the support of Shell Pilipinas Corporation (SPC) and Shell Business Operations Manila (SBO), the activity demonstrated how collaboration and volunteerism can help address community healthcare needs.
Bringing care closer to home
Healthcare professionals from Batangas Medical Center (BatMC), the City Health Office (CHO), the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) Batangas, and Libjo Health Center provided services addressing a range of community health concerns.
Common concerns included hypertension and diabetes among senior citizens, as well as coughs and colds among children. Residents were able to consult healthcare professionals and receive medicines within their barangay, reducing the need to travel for these services.
The mission served 243 residents, providing the following healthcare services:
Medical consultations: 186 patients
Dental services: 67 patients
Fasting blood sugar testing: 52 patients
Medicines and pharmaceutical assistance: 229 patients
Among the services provided were minor hand procedures performed by Dr. Frederick Iglesia of the PHO for senior citizens experiencing difficulty moving their fingers.
Volunteerism in action
Supporting the healthcare teams were 148 volunteers from Shell ACTS (A Community That Serves), Shell Import Facility Tabangao (SHIFT), the Barangay Libjo community, and PSFI’s scholar network. These included Sanayan sa Kakayahang Industriyal (SKIL) scholars and former Science and Technology Education Program (STEP) scholars.
Volunteers assisted with registration, guided patients between service areas, and supported vital signs monitoring, fasting blood sugar testing, medical and dental stations, pharmacy operations, and technical requirements. Their contributions helped healthcare teams accommodate residents throughout the day.
For participating scholars, the mission was also an opportunity to give back to the communities that had supported their education. Working alongside Shell employees, healthcare professionals, and community volunteers, they contributed their time and skills to help residents access care.
Barangay Libjo provided the venue, electric fans, chairs, and assistance in transporting materials and equipment. These contributions helped prepare the covered court to accommodate patients, volunteers, and healthcare teams.
PSFI focal person Hannah Raven Gutierrez coordinated the mission with Ynna Lauron-Doblado, Maezel Cardel, Ryle Banog, Dianne Javier, Alison Jamias, and Carmina Pura, bringing together the people and resources needed to deliver the services.
Through REACH, PSFI works with partners to make essential healthcare more accessible. In Barangay Libjo, that collaboration took a practical form: healthcare professionals providing care, volunteers helping residents navigate services, and a community working together to support its members’ well-being.
