INTRAMUROS, Manila — A new global grant will bring vital mobility services to the Bicol region. Led by the Rotary Club of Cabuyao Circle and the Rotary Club of Activate Melbourne, Australia, the project is named “Empowering Mobility: Bridging The Gap in Assistive Technology”. The project has two parts: it will train people to become prosthetic technicians, and it will also give artificial limbs to Bicolanos with disabilities.
The Cabuyao Circle Club in the Philippines is working with a partner club, Activate Melbourne in Australia. The project is made possible through The Rotary Foundation‘s global grant program. On the ground, Physicians for Peace Philippines (PFPP) will act as the key implementing partner, using its expertise to manage the project’s daily operations. All activities will be based at the Bicol Mobility Center along Balatas Road in Naga City.
A primary focus of the grant is creating a sustainable local resource through education. The funds will support comprehensive training for new Prosthetic Technicians who will learn to build, fit, and maintain assistive devices. By training local experts, the program creates a lasting solution for the community. The Bicol region will develop its own specialists, reducing its dependence on outside help. The Bicol Mobility Center will become a hub for this specialized knowledge, building capacity directly within the community it serves.
People with disabilities in Bicol will directly benefit. The program provides custom-fitted prostheses for legs, including below-knee and above-knee types. It also supplies spinal braces for those with back injuries or conditions. You can contact the Bicol Mobility Center for information on how to get these devices. The purpose is to help improve your movement and daily life.
The project is designed to have a lasting impact. After the grant funds the initial training, the newly skilled professionals will work at the Bicol Mobility Center. There, they will use their skills to serve local patients, creating a continuous cycle of care. This system is designed to last beyond the initial grant period. The community gains not only the equipment but also the skilled people needed for proper management. The program solves a problem now, while also building local skills for the future.
Getting prosthetics has always been hard in many parts of the Philippines. People in the provinces often had to travel to big cities for care. That trip costs a lot of time and money. This difficulty meant many people went without the devices they needed. The Bicol Mobility Center, supported by this new grant, directly changes this situation for the region by bringing specialized care closer to home. The local center solves a big problem for families. A nearby clinic means follow-up appointments and device adjustments are much easier. This regular support is necessary for a person to successfully use a prosthesis.
Key Rotary leaders worked hard to make this project happen, including Governor Everett Olivan and Lady Maryselle Olivan of District 3820, and Lzl Manalo Castro-Ampatuan. Their teamwork secured the Australian partner and the funding from The Rotary Foundation. It is an example of the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self”.
The “Empowering Mobility” project is a concrete step for the PWD community in Bicol. It brings together an international team and local experts. The grant fixes a specific problem by training technicians and providing devices where they are needed. This work strengthens Bicol’s health services and gives people the tools to improve their own lives.