With the COVID-19 pandemic nearly shattering the Philippines’ economy, the less fortunate undeniably have suffered. While they tried to survive every day with not enough money to buy food for their families, the pandemic added other items to their daily expenses—masks and face shields.. Thus, the Rotaract Club Balintawak wanted to lessen this burden for a specific barangay, Barangay Balingasa, by launching a community service donation drive—Project Maschera, an Italian word for “mask.”
The project started last August 2020 by Transforming President Francesca Nacua. The lockdown restrictions were eased, and few people were slowly returning to work in a condition that everyone outside must wear their masks and face shields. Due to the demand for these items, face shields became a vital addition to the daily and monthly expenses of people.
These circumstances were brought up at one of the club’s meetings, and the members were delighted to be of any help. The club allotted a part of their club funds to this project. After a few more meetings and with the Rotarians’ support and overwhelming generosity, the project was finally set to commence.
Every month starting from August 2020 until now, specifically at its last week, members of the club go to Balingasa High School and Barangay Balingasa to personally deliver boxes of masks and face shields that the barangay staff will then distribute to the residents. These adjustments were made for the safety of both the Rotaractors and the residents and to comply with the guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).
Furthermore, during the recent years of the club, multi-year projects were not frequent, thus making this project one of a kind and the first multi-year community service project in years. Delivering the boxes of face masks and face shields requires consistent transportation along with careful delivery at a location that is not easily accessible. However, it was made possible by the Rotarians’ support.
With this, residents of the barangay will have enough supply of these items and will benefit from sustainable access to these items that could prevent the spread of COVID-19.
As the club successfully continued this two-year-long commitment, they are looking forward to the further success of the project all throughout the life-changing year as well as the next rotary year, carrying their duties out to the best of their abilities and being able to contribute meaningfully to disease prevention and treatment within the country.
