There’s no stopping the Association of Reservists and Reservist Administrators of the Philippines (ARRAPI) from extending medical services even to the most isolated communities in the country.
Led by former Deputy Speaker Col. Mikee Romero, PAF Reservist, ARRAPI has joined forces with the Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom), in launching the Last Mile Medical Health Donation initiative in Tawi-Tawi over the weekend.
There, Romero, OIC Wing Commander of the 2nd Air Force Wing Reserve Command and ARRAPI chairman, together with Brig. Gen. Romulo Quemado II, acting commander of WestMinCom, turned over portable laboratory equipment to the hospitals of Mapun and Taganak.
“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.”
They selected the frontier municipalities like Mapun and Taganak due to extraordinary challenges they faced in the past – their distance from the mainland often leads to delayed or inaccessible medical services, especially during emergencies.
“With partners like ARRAPI, we bring essential medical services closer to our people and our troops. This is about strengthening both community health and security, proving that no distance is too far when it comes to serving our people,” added Quemado.
The donation – part of the Last Mile Medical Health Donation program —included the following:
- 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 (CBC)
- Reagents for urine analyzers
- Power and telemedicine setup
The donation was carried out in line with the Maritime Archipelagic and National Awareness Month (MaNaMo), which underscores the importance of recognizing the Philippines’ unique maritime identity and the responsibility to serve even its most isolated islands.
Both leaders are convinced that these provisions will significantly enhance the diagnostic capacity of hospitals in Mapun and Taganak, empowering frontline doctors and nurses in providing timely and reliable care.
Romero was accompanied by ARRAPI President Lt. Col. Vladimir Mata, Lt. Col. Floreto Solano, Commander Peter Negrido and Col. Yay Lacson-Hizon while representing WestMinCom were Brig. Gen. Rocky Binga, Brig. Gen. Bayani Curaming, Col. JJ Javines, and Capt. Edwin Ello.
