Cagayan de Oro City
How can community members continue to support one another, especially those among them who are most in need, as many parts of the country continue to face various degrees of community quarantine during the time of COVID-19?
One sector greatly affected by the pandemic was tricycle operators and drivers. In Cagayan de Oro City, for example, public utility vehicles had to stop operations to comply with community guidelines to flatten the curve of the pandemic,
Seeing that their local transport sector—particularly pedicab drivers—is in need of assistance, alumni of Ayala Foundation’s Leadership Communities (LeadCom) program launched a donation drive.
LeadCom Cagayan de Oro alumnus Ash Galaura, together with concerned youth from barangay Camaman-an, launched the “Tabang Sikad” to help provide part of the food and hygiene needs of pedicab drivers in their area. Through this effort, they assisted 40 sikad drivers by providing multivitamins, rice, fresh veggies, canned goods, sanitation kits, hot meals, and others.
Galaura was inspired by the perseverance of the sikad drivers to provide for their families. He said: “Camaman-an may be my barangay, but through LeadCom, i learned not only of its residents, but [also] of their stories. From the networks built, which i can associate with LeadCom, the donation drive came in easy.”
Inspired by “Tabang Sikad” in barangay Camaman-an, Cagayan de Oro City, other LeadCom alumni kicked off their own relief efforts, creating a ripple effect in various LeadCom sites.
Liam Aiken Osorio, a member of the fourth batch of LeadCom Cagayan de Oro alumni, initiated “Tabang Sikad 2.0,” this time serving 50 sikad drivers in barangay Carmen. “Tabang Uswag” was started by LeadCom alumnus Mico Galon to serve sikad drivers and quarry workers in barangay Kauswagan.
In Estancia, Iloilo, meanwhile, LeadCom alumnus Wilfredo Plasencia raised support for senior citizens in barangay Daculan, through his project “Bulig sa aton Lola kag Lolo.”
Ayala Foundation’s Leadership Communities program believes in the power of the youth to become agents of positive change. This community-based program trains and empowers youth organizations to design and implement projects that address their communities’ most pressing needs.