Pru Life UK increases community support and climate resilience initiatives on Bantayan Island

Through Ulan Alang sa Bantayan, the company’s climate resilience initiative, and its yearly gift-giving event, leading life insurer Pru Life UK reaffirmed its dedication to the Bantayan Island community in Cebu.

With an emphasis on water security, Ulan Alang sa Bantayan was established in 2024 with the goal of educating communities and fostering long-term resilience against the effects of climate change. Pru Life UK provided two rainwater harvesting systems for its chosen villages during the program’s inaugural year, giving more than 500 families a dependable 2,000-liter supply of clean water. To guarantee long-term support for the communities, training courses on the correct use and upkeep of the systems were also held.

This year, the company continued the programme by facilitating Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) training and distributing gift packs as part of its annual gift-giving tradition. To further community capacity-building, Pru Life UK also conducted a pilot run of a new financial literacy programme for adults developed by Prudence Foundation, the community investment arm of Prudential plc.

“Ug alang kanako, dako kaayo og impact ang WASH program, labi na sa tubig tungod kay ang tubig maoy naghatag og kinabuhi alang kanatong tanan, ug naghatag og limpiyo sa atong matag usa. Ug labaw sa tanan, dako kaayo ikatabang kanato, ingon nga paglimpiyo sa atong kaugalingon, ug labaw sa tanan, personal hygiene alang kanato. Dako kaayo ni’g ikatabang tungod kay kon limpiyo ang atong kaugalingon, limpiyo sab ang atong palibot. (For me, the WASH programme has a huge impact, especially when it comes to water because water gives life to all of us and provides cleanliness for each one of us. Above all, it greatly helps us in cleaning ourselves and maintaining personal hygiene. This is very important because when we are clean, our surroundings are also clean,” said Rolly Giducos, community leader from Maricaban, Santa Fe on Bantayan Island, one of the community beneficiaries).”

Pru Life UK’s support for Bantayan Island started when the Prudence Foundation formed a multi-year partnership with Habitat for Humanity Philippines to help rebuild the homes of residents affected by Super Typhoon Yolanda. When the housing initiative was completed in 2017, the company continued its annual outreach, which has since evolved and expanded through the Ulan Alang sa Bantayan programme, which was developed in collaboration with the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) to align with its broader climate and health advocacy.

“Our work in Bantayan reflects our belief that progress is built through trust and shared responsibility,” said Calvin Kohchet-Chua, Pru Life UK Chief Legal, Government Relations, and Sustainability Officer. “As Ulan Alang sa Bantayan grows, so does our dedication to helping communities prepare for the future with confidence and security.”

Pru Life UK continues to exemplify what it means to be a reliable partner in protection—one that Filipinos can rely on today, tomorrow, and for generations to come—through enduring partnerships and programs that serve both current and future needs.