InsiderPH features the inspiring stories of Metrobank Foundation’s awardees as Outstanding Filipino for 2024 — teachers, soldiers and police officers who are making significant contributions to nation building.
Currently serving as the monitoring and evaluation police non-commissioned officer at the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office in Misamis Oriental, Jovita embodies the belief that a police officer’s most crucial role is to be, first and foremost, a trusted member of the community.
Among her many initiatives within her eleven-year career, the “Gatas Mo, Kinabuhi Ko” program launched in 2018 stands out as a shining example of her innovative approach to community service. Inspired by the bayanihan spirit, this program bridges a critical gap, providing life-saving breast milk to mothers unable to nourish their infants.
Jovita’s unwavering resolve was tested initially, as colleagues questioned the program’s relevance to police work.
Undeterred, she embarked on a mission to educate and build support, then became a part of the Cagayan de Oro City Health Department’s Maternal Nutrition Infant and Young Child Feeding Task Force.
She personally visited health centers, empowering mothers with milk expression techniques and collaborating with barangay nutrition scholars to establish a milk collection system for a designated milk bank.
Jovita’s dedication bore fruit: since its launch, 302 women have generously donated breast milk, benefiting 496 infants across 19 barangays.
Her vision extended beyond her local community. She actively advocated for the program’s replication in other stations. Her efforts were recognized at the Police Service Anniversary, where “Gatas Mo, Kinabuhi Ko” received the “Best Junior Police Non- Commissioned Officer for Administration” award.
This recognition provided her with the resources to purchase ice boxes for each station, facilitating a seamless milk collection and storage process for lactating mothers unable to deliver the milk themselves.
Jovita further solidified the program’s foundation by establishing memorandums of agreement with Modern Nanays, a group of lactating mothers in northern Mindanao, and the City Health Office. These collaborations ensured not only ensured the program’s longevity but also fostered a more approachable image of police officers, strengthening community relations.
Beyond her groundbreaking work with breastfeeding, Jovita has made significant strides in addressing other pressing community issues. Her Safe Swim Program aims to prevent drowning incidents by equipping both police personnel and at-risk children with essential water safety skills.
By training 20 police officers and 20 vulnerable children in scientific swimming techniques, Jovita has not only enhanced public safety but also provided a therapeutic outlet for children, including those in conflict with the law.
Her “Together We Can” program, launched in 2017, focuses on equipping the youth with the knowledge and skills to resist the pressures of substance abuse and bullying. To date, the program has reached 600 senior and junior high school students in Cagayan de Oro City, empowering them to make informed choices and build resilience.
Jovita’s dedication to community service extended beyond her core programs. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she recognized the challenges faced by senior citizens, many of whom were unable to access basic necessities like haircuts.
In response, she coordinated with local Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams to organize a free haircut service. This effort not only delivered a much-needed service but also exemplified the police force’s commitment to community welfare during a challenging time.
Under her leadership, Police Station 9 achieved the remarkable distinction of being recognized as a child-friendly station, ranking second in the region for its exceptional capability to handle children with special needs.
Through close collaboration with teachers and parents, she has fostered a supportive and inclusive environment where these children feel safe, protected, and valued.
Since joining the PNP in 2012, Jovita has consistently excelled, earning such awards as the Medalyang Papuri, Medalyang Kagalingan, and Medalyang Paglilingkod Laban sa Kriminalidad from Police Regional Office 10, as well as the Medalyang Kasanayan from the Philippine National Police and the Medalyang Katangitanging Gawa from the Directorate for Police Personnel and Records Management, is a testament to her significant contributions to law enforcement and community development.
A dedicated mother of one, Jovita’s academic foundation in Special Education and Early Childhood from Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan has deepened her understanding of the needs of vulnerable populations, particularly children and families. This knowledge has been instrumental in her work as a community-oriented police officer. — Metrobank Foundation