Olongapo City has experienced disasters such as the Mt.
Pinatubo eruption and the removal of the US bases. However,
the city did not take those problems to heart and did nothing.
The people, instead, stepped up by working with the political
leaders of the area to bring back the vibrancy of the city.
It is easy for people to criticize the government.
It is, however, not easy to volunteer one’s services
for the benefit of the community. But that is what the Olongapenos
exactly did.
Guided by their desire for Olongapo City to be a
progressive and safe place for its residents, the people
cooperated in different aspects of service. The housewives
volunteered as Balikatan ladies, working in the government
hospital as nursing aides. They did not ask for anything
in return, and even provided for their own meals and uniforms.
Government workers volunteered during weekly cleanup drives.
Vendors cleaned their stalls in the public market.
The spirit of volunteerism was imbibed in the minds
and hearts of the businessmen and the NGO’s. The “Good
Samaritan” project was created for the city government
to help the indigents. In addition to that, the people also
volunteered their help during national calamities. With
all the people’s hardwork, Subic was declared a free
port, generating 53,000 jobs.
