By DANIEL P. TAPAOAN, JR. 

The aid for stranded MMSU students continues as a private group from Pagudpud and Bangui had turned over relief packs to the university’s Office for Student Affairs and Services (OSAS).

Dr. Elizabeth Marfel F. Gagni, OSAS director, said the relief goods are being distributed this week to the 110 MMSU students who have been staying in their dormitories in the City of Batac since the community quarantine took effect.

The group, led by Cynthia Maria Lyka Carizal, a former MMSU student, donated packs of goods worth Php 11, 325. Each stranded student is given two noodles, a canned good, biscuits, and one toothpaste, shampoo, and soap.

“This aid for the stranded MMSU students is part of our project dubbed as #LoveTheProvince, an initiative that intends to help those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Ilocos Norte,” Carizal said.

She said that through the project, the group selects one barangay in every town of the province, adding that in the City of Batac, the group decided to help the stranded MMSU students since almost all its members came from the university. 

Members of this group, all MMSU alumni, are Kyla Garvida, Venedick Ramiscal, and Julius Alvis. 

Kimmy Rangasan and Francis Gamboa, MMSU graduating students, are also part of the team.

The group is still accepting donations, monetary or in kind. 

For more than a month now, the OSAS has been facilitating a weekly distribution of goods to the stranded students through its Oplan SAWAR (Students’ Activities, Whereabouts, and Recourse). This is one of the initiatives under the MMSU’s Saranay Against COVID-19 program. (StratCom)