By JOHN VINCENT B. TORIBIO

The Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) is giving free accommodation to its students who are enrolled in the extended second semester of academic year 2019-2020 and are doing their theses as requirements for their graduation.

This move by the university administration is another form of assistance to graduating students during this COVID-19 pandemic crisis who may want to occupy the university’s co-educational (Co-Ed) dormitories for free.

“Students currently enrolled in thesis writing during the extended second semester can apply for free accommodation services,” said Prof. Milagros Barruga, chief of the Institutional Student Programs and Services (ISPS) unit of the Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS). She said that 145 qualified students will be accommodated.

Dubbed as Oplan Salinong, this compassionate assistance program will enable the students to continually work on their theses within the university premises during the implementation of the Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) so that they will have an easier access to the university’s stable internet connectivity and to the resources in the University Library System. Also, qualified students will be able to use university laboratory facilities. 

In this program, rental fees for the dormitories are waived, but the attributable expenses incurred on the use of appliances that the students will bring in will be charged.

Barruga said the Oplan Salinong will prioritize the application of graduating students with limited gadgets and have very poor internet connectivity based on the rapid survey conducted by the University recently and have been verified by the OSAS.  

“Those students whose theses that are experimental in nature shall be our priority,” Barruga said, adding that they can use their own accounts and freely use the internet connectivity service of the university, aside from strictly following the dormitories’ rules and regulations for their own welfare and safety.

The Oplan Salinong (an Ilocano term for shelter) recognizes the difficulty of the students in pursuit to finish their theses amid this pandemic crisis, thus, this program is the university’s proactive response to the shelter and safety needs of the students. 

This is jointly implemented by the OSAS and Business Directorate, which oversees the university accommodation services.

Barruga assured that the project abides by government-imposed quarantine rules.

Today, two BS Forestry students from the College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD) arrived at the dormitory, having been qualified for the said project. The two are working on their theses that entail floral diversity and growth performance of Kawayan Tinik.  

Interested students may apply for accommodation by accomplishing the online form to be accessible through: http://bitly.ws/8yqc. Inquiries are also entertained through this mobile number: 09291645101.