18/10/2026
82IB, HBONI, Multistakeholders Bring Essential Services to Remote Upland Community in Aklan
Reaching communities beyond geographical barriers, the 82nd Infantry “Bantay Laya” Battalion (82IB) of the Philippine Army and Hope Builders Organization Negros Island Inc. (HBONI) together with other partners joined hands to deliver essential services to residents of Sitio Taroytoy, Barangay Manika, Libacao, Aklan, through the provincial government’s Gobyerno sa Baryo outreach program on October 14, 2026.
The initiative brought together government agencies, non-government organizations, and other stakeholders to provide much-needed assistance to the geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA), where challenging terrain and limited access to basic services continue to affect the lives of local residents.
Located approximately 500 meters above sea level, Sitio Taroytoy has faced years of isolation due to its mountainous landscape and difficult river crossings. The community has also experienced security challenges in the past, prompting some families to leave their homes in search of safer places. These circumstances have affected the community’s population and access to educational and livelihood opportunities.
Through their collaboration, 82IB and HBONI aim to help address these challenges by bringing essential services closer to the people and establishing sustainable interventions that support education, health, livelihood, and community development.
Essential Services Reach Children and Families
As part of the outreach, HBONI, in partnership with EYE-hEAR Foundation Inc., conducted eye and ear screenings for nearly 200 residents. The team distributed 70 reading glasses, five pairs of sunglasses, and five ear-drop medicines to help address the community’s basic vision and ear-care needs. Also, vitamins for 2 year old infants donated by the doctors were distributed.
Children also received 150 pairs of slippers for learners of Taroytoy Elementary School and 100 loot bags containing candies and toys. The team distributed 75 hygiene kits containing essential personal-care items, including nail cutters, toothbrushes, toothpaste, face towels, tissue, sanitary napkins, cotton buds, and cotton.
To encourage participation and bring joy to the children, the outreach team also prepared 45 packs of prizes for parlor games.
Beyond the immediate assistance, the team conducted an initial assessment of available raw materials and existing skills among potential local weavers. The assessment focused on abaca, banban, uway, and tayok-tayok or reed grass, which could serve as resources for developing sustainable community-based livelihood opportunities.
These activities form part of HBONI’s continuing efforts to support underserved communities through education, health assistance, skills development, and livelihood initiatives.
Next Mission to Focus on Agriculture, Livelihood, and Community Empowerment
Building on the initial engagement, the 82IB and HBONI team is set to return to Sitio Taroytoy in November 2026 to introduce further interventions focused on improving agricultural practices, strengthening livelihood opportunities, and empowering the community.
The planned visit will explore practical approaches to enhancing local farming practices, maximizing available agricultural resources, and supporting household food production. The team also intends to build on the initial assessment of local weaving materials and skills by exploring opportunities for product development, skills enhancement, and the improvement of existing community-made products.
Community empowerment will also be a key component of the succeeding engagement. By working closely with residents, local educators, and other stakeholders, the team hopes to identify community-driven solutions that can help residents maximize their potential and take an active role in their own development.
The planned interventions are part of the broader Project Mission Beyond Borders framework, which seeks to extend services and development opportunities to communities facing geographical and socioeconomic barriers.
HBONI’s education initiatives, including its Masaya ang Magbasa Program, will also provide a pathway for supporting children’s literacy and encouraging a stronger culture of reading. Meanwhile, its PagkaOwn Program will serve as a platform for nutrition-related interventions aimed at supporting children and young people in underserved communities.
Building Lasting Partnerships for Inclusive Development
For 82IB Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Elmar Salvador, the collaboration reflects the importance of bringing government services and development opportunities closer to communities that have long faced isolation.
“Our mission goes beyond safeguarding borders; it is about building sustainable pathways of hope in communities that felt forgotten,” Salvador said. He emphasized that strengthening connections between government institutions and geographically isolated communities can help address longstanding challenges and create opportunities for lasting development.
Kenneth Bacala, founder and chief executive officer of HBONI, likewise underscored the importance of partnerships that extend beyond geographical boundaries to reach children, families, farmers, and local producers.
“No distance or river is too wide when it comes to empowering the next generation. Taroytoy possesses incredible potential in its youth, its resident educators, and its agricultural products. This partnership with 82IB and the provincial government allows us to plant seeds of real, lasting peace through service,” Bacala said.
The initiative was made possible through coordination with the Aklan Provincial Government, the Local Government Unit of Libacao, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), local police units, and other partner stakeholders.
As the partnership moves forward, 82IB and HBONI intend to sustain their engagement in geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities, beginning with Sitio Taroytoy. The planned November visit will build on the services already delivered and help identify longer-term interventions responsive to the community’s agricultural, livelihood, educational, and social development needs.
Through continued collaboration and community participation, the partnership hopes to ensure that geographical isolation does not prevent residents from accessing essential services, developing their livelihoods, and building a more sustainable future.
