By JOHN VINCENT B. TORIBIO

Home, at last.

Fifteen students of the Mariano Marcos State University who were stranded in their dormitories due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) imposed in the province travelled back to their homes today, May 16.

The University, through the Office for Student Affairs and Services (OSAS), headed by Dr. Elizabeth Mafel Gagni, ferried the students to their hometowns in Cagayan and Isabela. Also, a student from the Divine Word College of Laoag, who went home to Cagayan, was assisted by MMSU. 

Travelled thru a university bus, each student was also provided with snacks, packed lunch, and Php 500 cash allowance.

The program, dubbed as Oplan PARUBBUAT (Program to Accompany and Return University Brothers / Sisters to their Beloved Utmost Abodes thru Travel Provisions), was spearheaded by the OSAS Institutional Student Programs and Scholarships (ISPS) unit. 

Prof. Milagros Barruga, ISPS chief, stated "the office considers the welfare and emotional well-being of the students as the top priority; reconnecting to their families will be very vital for them to cope with the pandemic," she added. 

Through MMSU's coordination with the provincial governments and local government units, the students are fetched by vehicles provided by their towns to ferry them directly to their homes.

The Student Welfare unit, led by Dr. Geraldeen Pascual, assisted in the coordination with the provincial governments and LGUs of the students. "We thank Governor Manuel Mamba of Cagayan for his very responsive assistance to our program," she said. 

The students are now with their families in their respective towns: Claveria, Sanchez Mira, Abulog, Pamplona, Gonzaga,Sta. Ana, Aparri, Tuguegarao, Cagayan and Alicia, Isabela. 

Dr. Jan Rich A. Guira, OSAS student development chief, accompanied the students. 

Krystle Candice Palay, a fifth year BS Chemical Engineering student, expressed her gratitude to the university, highlighting that "MMSU really made the stranded students feel its compassion [saranay]; from weekly food rationing and provision of cash allowance, online psycho-social support, and now, ferried us to our first homes to be with our families."

Oplan PARUBBUAT is a part of the MMSU Saranay against COVID-19, the university’s response to the effects of the current health crisis to the MMSU and its extended communities. Other initiatives include the distribution of nipahol (70% ethyl alcohol produced by the university), food rationing and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment (face masks and lab gown), among others. (StratCom)