ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig” has been at the vanguard to clear the 27-km Pasig River and its tributaries of garbage. But before doing so, they had to relocate the informal settlers living along the river, which is estimated at around 5,000 families. Today, the families have been relocated to the 107-hectare National Housing Authority site in Calauan, Laguna, now called “BayaNiJuan sa Calauan”.

When it comes to health care, the citizens of BayaNiJuan are considerably underprivileged. Only one doctor comes once a week to address the health concerns of the community, with the rest of the week’s worth of work left to the Barangay Health Workers. With this dilemma, the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity has decided to partake in the development of the health system of BayaNiJuan, starting with a series of public health lectures and medical missions.

On August 21, 2010, the Phi Kappa Mu visited BayaNiJuan for the first time with the intention of assessing the problems and needs of the community, starting with Site 3. A public health lecture and a medical mission were held at the community’s multi-purpose hall. In the process, the brods elicited the concerns of around 40 families from Site 3 to help the Fraternity decide what projects to carry out to help the community in the future. It was a good start.

Last September 18, the rainy weather didn’t stop the Brods from braving the heavy Saturday traffic in Laguna from coming back to BayaNiJuan to hold another medical mission, this time with the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority and UP Diliman’s Pre-Medical Honor Society.

This medical mission was nothing like the first one. The half-day-turned-whole-day affair tested the brods’ and sisses’ clinical eye and pharmacotherapeutic knowledge as the cases ranged from the common cold and skin infections to the more serious ones such as hypertension and diabetes with complications. It was the most strenuous and exhausting medical mission this year, with over 350 patients seeking medical care. Even though it ended quite late, it was made sure that all the medical concerns were addressed by the end of the day. In addition, a variety of medications were donated in support of the community’s only health center.

With these two visits, the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity begins its long-term partnership with ABS-CBN and its affiliates for the development of the very inadequate health system of “BayaNiJuan sa Calauan” to eventually improve the quality of life of its 5,000 families.

Congratulations to Senior Guardian of the Temple Joshua Anton Ostoy Yabut Φ08B for upholding one the PHI’s pillars that is Service through this flagship project.

All for PHI!

For more pictures of the event, click here.