Pru Life UK brings clean water and long-term community resilience to Bantayanons

In an uplifting effort to improve lives, Pru Life UK has launched the Ulan Alang sa Bantayan (Rain for Bantayan) programme, offering clean water and building long-term community resilience to residents of Bantayan Island, Cebu.

For years, families on the island have struggled with limited access to clean water, often walking long distances to fetch it. The Ulan Alang sa Bantayan programme has tackled this issue head-on by building two rainwater harvesting systems in Barangays Sulangan and Maricaban. Supplemented by the distribution of water containers such as pails and water jugs for each household, these systems will provide over 540 families with a 2,000-liter supply of clean water, eliminating the need for exhausting trips. Training for locals will also be conducted to ensure the facilities remain effective for years to come.

“We aim to do more than provide immediate relief. We’re here to equip communities with tools and knowledge to thrive,” said Maricel Estavillo, Vice President for Government Relations & Sustainability at Pru Life UK. “Programmes like this reflect our dedication to fighting climate change and creating lasting positive impacts.”

In addition to addressing water security, the programme also aims to empower the community and protect the environment. Pru Life UK volunteers and residents teamed up for a coastal clean-up, helping restore Bantayan’s marine beauty. 

To inspire the next generation, Pru Life UK also gifted 200 Bantayanon youth with copies of its newly released climate and health comic book entitled “Maging Handa: A Story of Adaptation and Resilience Amid Climate Change”. This engaging story helps young people understand the connection among climate change & health, financial security, and resilience, making complex issues easy to grasp. The comic book draws on insights from leading experts like Dr. Renzo Guinto, Associate Professor of Global and Planetary Health at the Singhealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute and Associate Professor of Psychology at De La Salle University Dr. John Aruta. 

“Ang financial security dako gyud sya nga tabang sa isa ka tao. Para ma achieve natoang financial security dili gyud ta magpataka ug gasto sa atong kwarta aron kung naay emergency naa gyud tay magasto (Financial security is a great help to a person. To achieve it, we should not spend our money carelessly so that we have something to spend in case of an emergency)," shared Mariae Ginmie Esgana, senior high school student from Bantayan Island, when asked about her learning from the comic book.

The Ulan Alang sa Bantayan’s efforts addressing water security and educating the community about sustainable practices is a result of a partnership with Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), continuing a collaboration that started with Project Padayon, a COVID-19 recovery initiative. 

Pru Life UK’s longstanding support for Bantayan Island began with the multi-year house build project of Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm in Asia and Africa of Prudential plc, to aid residents whose homes and lives were devastated in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda. Since then, the company has continued to provide support to its adopted communities through an annual holiday outreach tradition with employee volunteers.

By addressing urgent needs while fostering sustainability, Ulan Alang sa Bantayan exemplifies Pru Life UK’s mission: to be a trusted partner for Filipinos, helping them face life’s challenges, including the growing threat of climate change.

To learn more about Pru Life UK’s sustainability initiatives, visit www.prulifeuk.com.ph.

Pru Life UK launched "Ulan Alang sa Bantayan" (Ulan para sa Bantayan) raising awareness and building resilience against climate change's effects on Filipinos' health through water security.

Two rainwater harvesting facilities were inaugurated in Barangays Maricaban and Sulangan in Bantayan Island that will provide clean water access to their communities.

In photo: Maricel Estavillo, Pru Life UK’s Vice President for Government Relations & Sustainability (2nd from right); Daisy Alvior, Vice President for Talent & Organisation, (1st from right);  Loren Omboy, ASSIST Communications & Visibility Lead (1st from left); and Merarie Santillan, a resident from Brgy.Sulangan (2nd from left).

Mariae Ginmie Esgana (middle), a senior high school student from Bantayan Island, shares her learning from Pru Life UK’s Climate and Health comic book “Maging Handa: A Story of Adaptation and Resilience Amid Climate Change” with her friends.

Pru Life UK’s employee volunteers led the coastal clean-up of Santa Fe beach in Bantayan Island.