GMA Kapuso Foundation Inc. (GMAKF) strengthened its regional public service efforts with the recent launch of its Davao Chapter last August 17 at the El Gato Restaurant, Rancho Palos Verdes Sports and Country Club, Davao City.

Themed “Serbisyong Tinud-Anay Para Sa Tanay (Serbisyong Totoo Para Sa Lahat),” the event was aimed at eliciting compassion from donors and promoting volunteerism in the largest and most populous city outside Metro Manila.

Davao makes a strategic location to house GMAKF’s operations in the Southern part of the country. It is highly urbanized, making it geographically accessible to areas at the outskirts of Mindanao, where poverty levels are high.

GMAKF Davao Chapter complements the GMA TV Davao Station, and brings the mantra of Serbisyong Totoo on-ground much faster.

According to GMAKF EVP and COO Mel Tiangco, the Foundation’s Davao Chapter would facilitate and hasten the delivery of service to the Davaoeños given that most programs and operations are centralized in the GMAKF’s headquarters in Quezon City.

“We want to go to the grassroots as we mount and deliver our public service efforts. We also want to involve more people in the cause of alleviating poverty levels and extending assistance in several areas across the country,” she said.

Tiangco, however, added that they would eventually want to see the Davao Chapter operate independently and generate support on its own. “Our end-goal is to make the Davao Chapter self-supporting, in that it should be able to mount its own medical missions, relief operations, etc. thru local support. But this does necessarily mean that we are excluding ourselves from extending help. We will be working hand in hand with them as we strive to better serve the residents of Davao.”

Tiangco led the ceremonial toast together with Mr. Jeffery Balde, Executive Director of GMAKF, Ms. Mariles Puentevella, Station Manager of GMA TV 5 Davao, Mr. Oliver Amoroso, AVP for GMA Regional TV, Ms. Cel Amores, AVP for Regional News and Public Affairs, and Ms. Gigi Lolarga, Operations Manager for GMA Regional TV.

Since 2008, the Foundation has been mounting humanitarian activities for Davao’s underprivileged communities. These projects fall under GMAKF’s four areas of social concern, namely, health, education, disaster relief, and values formation.

On August 18, the Foundation mounted the Kapuso Barangayan, a medical mission sponsored by Pharex Health Corp. as a birthday present for Ms. Mel Tiangco. “It has been a yearly tradition for them to sponsor a medical mission worth at least half a million for my birthday, and I am very grateful for that,” she shared.

Following the Cebu, Iloilo and Davao Chapter Launch, the Foundation  is also set to launch its Dagupan Chapter where GMAKF operations were started early this year.   The GMAKF also plans to establish GMAKF chapters in Bicol and Ilocos where  new GMA originating stations are also located.  

Individuals and organizations may take part in reaching out to the underprivileged Filipinos through GMA Kapuso Foundation. To make a donation, deposit under the account name GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc. For Metrobank, the account numbers are 3-098-51034-7 (Peso Savings) and 2-098-00244-2 with code MBTC PH MM (Dollar Savings). For UCPB, the account numbers are 115-184777-2 and 160-111277-7 (Peso Savings), and 01-115-301177-9 and 01-160-300427-6 with swift code UCPB PH MM (Dollar Savings). Donations are also accepted through their website and in all branches of Cebuana Lhuillier nationwide.

For more information, contact GMAKF at Tel. no. (632) 9827777 locals 9901 or 9905, email at gmaf@gmanetwork.com or visit www.gmanetwork.com.