By DANIEL P. TAPAOAN, JR.

Two alumni groups of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) have raised funds to help the students stranded in dormitories due to the prolonged provincial lockdown and the frontliners who persistently combat the coronavirus.

The College of Health Sciences Alumni Association (CHSAA) gave PhP 5,000 each to the university’s Office for Student Affairs and Services (OSAS) and Security and Monitoring Services (SMS) last April 24. The amounts were used by OSAS to provide relief goods to the stranded students and by the SMS to buy their personnel’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs).

The cash donation is by virtue of the alumni group’s Resolution No. 2, s. 2020 which was unanimously voted for by its members last April 22. The organization is led by its President, Ms. Jevyh Mirasol.

Also, the College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA) Batch 1996 collected a total of PhP 26,600 to purchase food packs for the health workers of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMH-MC).

Ms. Lenie Bayangos, director for university’s business directorate and a member of CBEA Batch 1996, said a total of PhP 11,200 was used in buying 160 food packs last April 14, while, Php 15,400 was spent for 220 food packs last April 23. 

The CBEA Batch 1996 also sealed the food packs with a message of hope saying, “Thank you for all your sacrifices. Keep fighting for us, we are at your back!”

Meanwhile, the Alumni Relations Office (ARO) and Federated Alumni Association Inc. (FAAI) of the university also constantly call for cash donations to augment the living conditions of stranded MMSU students and to buy PPEs for the frontliners.

Prof. Ryan Dean T. Sucgang, ARO chief, said some MMSU graduates already gave their donations via wire transfer and personal remittances. He also encouraged other MMSU alumni to take part in this initiative. 

Prof. Sucgang added that cash donations may be dropped to the Philippine National Bank via this account name and number: MMSU Federated Alumni Association, 22870001855. (StratCom)