Pines City Colleges (PCC) has proudly earned dual recognition at the 2025 World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI), securing the 82nd spot in the category of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)-Based Responses to Global Challenges and ranking 88th for Student Support and Engagement. This prestigious acknowledgment highlights PCC’s unwavering dedication to community service and student development, exemplified by its impactful Medical Fair initiative.
This year, WURI received 4,866 innovation cases submitted by 1,350 universities worldwide. Despite the heightened competition, PCC distinguished itself through meaningful community initiatives, particularly its Medical Fair, which provides free healthcare services to underserved communities while offering students invaluable hands-on learning opportunities.
PCC’s SDG-based impact
PCC’s ranking of 82nd in SDG-Based impact acknowledges its strong alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Medical Fair addresses SDG 2: Good Health and Well-being by providing free health consultations, screenings, and medicines that promote health equity and improve community wellness. In line with SDG 4: Quality Education, the initiative offers educational talks on preventive healthcare, hygiene, and nutrition, empowering individuals with knowledge for healthier lives. It also contributes to SDG 1: No Poverty by alleviating the financial burden of healthcare through free services and essential goods distribution. Moreover, PCC’s success reflects SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, made possible through collaborations with local government units, health agencies, alumni, and student volunteers, demonstrating how united efforts foster lasting change.
In addition, PCC earned 88th place for Student Support and Engagement, recognizing its commitment to empowering students through leadership roles and community service that enhance practical skills while benefiting others.
Project Salun-at Drive
The foundation of these awards is the “Salun-at Drive,” a comprehensive program under Project ANGELS, which was launched in October 2012. It was initiated and developed through the collaborative efforts of Ms. Rowena T. Acacio, Mr. Jayson P. Belino, Ms. Pearl Angelli F. Vicente, Ms. Lany S. Paway, Ms. Febe B. Carreon, and Mr. Collin Jaye W. Laguinday. It addresses immediate healthcare needs through medical-dental missions, promotes disease prevention through health education, and empowers communities through targeted health training such as basic life support and first aid. The program’s meaningful and sustainable impact lies in its synergic approach, which mirrors how different stakeholders collaborate to build resilient and healthy communities. It fosters strong partnerships with both government and non-government units, including schools, to strengthen community health efforts.
The planning behind Salun-at Drive envisions the establishment of equitable societal health by building healthy communities, ensuring consistent access to healthcare and health-promoting resources, and empowering individuals to manage their own healthcare needs. The program promotes inclusivity by engaging diverse communities in health-centered projects, addressing immediate treatment needs, increasing health literacy by encouraging healthy lifestyles, and providing access to free healthcare services. Salun-at Drive is grounded in the belief that health is a fundamental human right, and that every community deserves equal access to healthcare services and sustainable health education to build resiliency.
The implementation of the Salun-at Drive involves the faculty, non-teaching, and students from the colleges and departments to address a holistic medical-dental mission with their roles based on their specialty, skills, and capabilities as follows:
- The School of Medicine and school physician are responsible for general medical check-ups and assessments;
- The College of Nursing is in charge of vital signs and head-to-toe assessments;
- The College of Dentistry conducts dental check-ups, prophylaxis, tooth extraction, fluoridation, and dental education; the College of Physical Therapy usually does scoliosis screening, postural assessment, and developmental assessment;
- The College of Medical Laboratory Science conducts blood typing, urinalysis, fecal analysis, blood sugar testing, blood typing, and bloodletting.
- The College of Pharmacy provides medicines and vitamins and conducts drug dispensing and counseling.
- The College of Respiratory Therapy conducts Respiratory Disease Management and Basic Live Support Training.
- The Non-teaching department acts as a support system, while the Student organization provides Psycho-social interactive engagement.
The beneficiaries are usually given hygiene kits and nutritious meals. The kits consist of toiletries, face towel, alcohol, comb, cotton buds, and others. Health education, including oral hygiene, handwashing, basic life support, and first aid training, is conducted to supplement the medical-dental mission.
These remarkable projects have reached more than 1,000 beneficiaries, including children, students and teachers from both public and private schools, youth, adults, senior citizens, residents from various barangays, and even local council members. The Medical Fair not only advances PCC’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by promoting health, education, and poverty reduction, but it also serves as a vital platform for student support and engagement. Students actively participate in planning, organizing, and delivering services, thereby enhancing their leadership, teamwork, and community service skills while making a tangible impact on the lives of those they serve. While PCC has received numerous certificates recognizing its efforts, the most profound appreciation comes from the heartfelt gratitude expressed by the beneficiaries. Though these projects may seem modest, they reflect genuine compassion and care, illustrating the powerful role education plays in transforming lives. #Iveeh Amparo
