By DANIEL P. TAPAOAN, JR. 

The colleges of the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) also take part in helping stranded students cope with their basic needs amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) due to COVID-19 crisis.

The various departments of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) have contributed Php 25,500 to purchase the basic needs of the stranded students of the University. They have remitted said amount to the Office for Student Affair and Services (OSAS) which facilitates the monitoring of the students. Another Php 20,000 was also pledged by a department in the college for the same purpose.

Also, the CAS Alumni Association (CASAA) recently launched its donation drive dubbed “Tayo’s MagCASAAma Laban sa Covid-19” to raise financial support to students. Posted in its official Facebook page last April 4, the association said it will also help the front-liners of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in case of overwhelming donation.

The CASAA added that the donors may send their pledges through the following accounts: PNB (546870600018), BDO (005490129906), BPI (3449043439), GCash (09178450042), and PayMaya and Landbank (through QR codes).

Also, the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy (CBEA) has already raised funds coming from its faculty, staff, student council, and academic organizations. The collection was used by the college to serve its 15 stranded students. 

At present, the CBEA is still seeking for more donors and is planning to shed out some funds to other students of the university.

Meanwhile, the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) has already collected some Php 17,000 from its faculty members and used this to buy basic needs for its nine stranded students. Distribution of the goods was done by Dr. Joselito I. Rosario, CAFSD dean; Dr. Florecita Q. Cortero, chairperson of the development communication department; and Mr. Reynold Guiang, a faculty member of the agricultural sciences department. 

Moreover, the College of Engineering will also collect voluntary contributions from its faculty and staff to help its 52 stranded students and two front-liners. Initiated by its dean, Dr. Nathaniel Alibuyog, the college also plans to extend the aid to other front-liners of the university. 

Prior to this, MMSU already launched three major initiatives in response to the COVID-19 crisis. These are the production of Nipahol (70% ethyl alcohol from nipa sap) by the National Bioenergy Research and Innovation Center (NBERIC); the creation of improvised face masks by the College of Industrial Technology; and the food rationing program for MMSU students and front-liners, a result of the Oplan Student Affairs, Whereabouts and Recourse (SAWAR) conducted by the OSAS. (StratCom)

--- With reports from Ms. Sharon A. Bactat, CBEA correspondent; and Engr. Karen Joyce A. Santiago, COE correspondent.