A group of military reservists donated medical equipment and supplies to hospitals in Tawi-Tawi, providing the residents of the province with better access to medical care.
The Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines Incorporated (ARRAPI) turned over the supplies to the hospitals in the coastal municipalities of Mapun and Taganak over the weekend.
Former House Deputy Speaker Col. Mikee Romero, a Philippine Air Force reservist and chairman, led the turnover of the equipment during the launch of the Last Mile Medical Health Donation initiative.
Romero was joined by Brig. Gen. Romulo Quemado, the acting commander of the military’s Western Mindanao Command based in Zamboanga City.
“As reservists, it is our duty to serve even the most remote communities,” said Romero.
“This Last Mile initiative ensures that our people in frontier islands are not left behind and have access to proper healthcare. Every Filipino deserves quality medical attention—no matter how far they live,” added Romero.
Mapun and Taganak were chosen as the beneficiaries due to the “extraordinary challenges” they experienced in the past and their distance from the mainland, which often led to delayed access to medical services.
“With partners like ARRAPI, we bring essential medical services closer to our people and our troops,” said Quemado.
“This is about strengthening both community health and security, proving that no distance is too far when it comes to serving our people,” said Quemado.
The donation included facility upgrades for receiving hospitals, essential diagnostic equipment (ECG machine, urinalysis, blood chemistry analyzer), Reagents, controls, and calibrators for blood chemistry analyzers, Reagents for hematology, Reagents for urine analyzers, and Power and telemedicine setup.
The donation came during the observance of the Maritime Archipelagic and National Awareness Month, which underscores the importance of recognizing the Philippines’ unique maritime identity and the responsibility to serve even its most isolated islands
Romero and Quemado expressed confidence that the equipment and supplies will significantly enhance the diagnostic capacity of the hospitals of Mapun and Taganak and empower the doctors and nurses in providing timely and reliable care to people.
