Filipino American community leader Roger Santos of Angat Buhay USA traveled to Naga City in June to personally deliver donations supporting health care and agriculture initiatives led by former Vice President Leni Robredo, now mayor of the city.
Santos, a longtime advocate for poverty alleviation and community development, formally turned over 100 tablet computers to the Naga City government to help digitize health records across 27 barangays. The devices are intended to improve patient data management and accessibility at the local level, aligning with Robredo’s push to modernize public health services.
The tablets were received by Robredo, who founded Angat Buhay as a nonprofit initiative during her vice presidency and has continued its mission at the local level since assuming office as Naga mayor. The program focuses on uplifting marginalized communities through partnerships in health, education, and livelihood.
In a separate turnover on June 22, Santos also donated two dental chairs complete with equipment to Naga City health facilities. The contribution, received by Robredo alongside local health officials, is expected to expand access to oral health services and strengthen the capacity of public clinics.
Santos’ visit also included a site inspection of the Naga Techno-Demo Farm, part of a proposed climate-resilient agriculture project being developed in collaboration with the city government. The initiative, led by Angat Buhay USA and Naga City, aims to secure funding from a U.S.-based foundation.
The demonstration farm, managed by City Agriculturist Jap Asence, showcases sustainable farming practices designed to address food security, improve farmers’ income, and mitigate the impact of climate change. The project seeks to scale these practices and support local farmers facing increasingly unpredictable weather conditions.
Santos and Robredo have maintained a shared advocacy for community development through Angat Buhay, with their collaboration rooted in a broader network of Filipino and Filipino American volunteers and donors supporting grassroots programs in the Philippines. Angat Buhay USA serves as a key partner in mobilizing resources from the diaspora to support these initiatives.
Santos thanked donors and supporters of Angat Buhay USA, noting that the contributions reflect a continuing commitment among Filipino Americans to assist underserved communities in the Philippines.
Robredo, who served as the Philippines’ vice president from 2016 to 2022, has been widely recognized for her grassroots governance model and emphasis on transparency and volunteerism. As mayor of Naga, she has continued to prioritize community-driven programs, particularly in health care, education, and disaster resilience.
Santos, based in the United States, has long been active in philanthropy and community service through various organizations, including ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) Foundation, where he has led initiatives supporting housing, education, and livelihood programs.
Robredo was honored as a global awardee at the 13th The Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) in 2023 in Los Angeles. Santos was recognized earlier as a TOFA awardee in October 2014 at Carnegie Hall in New York during the organization’s fourth annual awards, cited for his outstanding work in community service and advocacy through ANCOP.
