By Alexandria Dennise San Juan
Cadets and alumni of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program of the University of the Philippines (UP) have stepped up to help in raising funds for frontline workers, as well as for students stranded in their dormitories due to the enhanced community quarantine being enforced in Luzon.
National Commander of the UP Vanguard Inc. Guido Delgado
(UP Vanguard Inc. / Facebook/ MANILA BULLETIN)
National Commander of the UP Vanguard Inc. Guido Delgado on Wednesday said the group, through the university's Department of Military Science & Tactics (DMST), mobilized ROTC cadets and alumni to support and assist their programs against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Among these, Delgado mentioned, was the providing of assistance to stranded students staying in dormitories within the university's campuses in Diliman, Los Baños, and in Baguio.
"Maraming mga estudyante na na-stranded sa UP Dililam, UP Los Baños, at sa UP Baguio. So, 'yung mga kadete namin doon, tumutulong sila sa feeding program at pamimigay ng hygiene kits na kailangan ng mga estudyante," Delgado said in a Laging Handa press briefing on Wednesday.
(There are many students stranded in UP Dililam, UP Los Baños, and UP Baguio. Our cadets there are aiding the students through feeding program as well as distribution of hygiene kits that they need.)
Apart from helping the students, the UP Vanguard also initiated a fundraiser for the production and acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPEs) such as hazmat suits and masks for the frontline workers.
"Nag-mobilize kami ng funds para magkaroon ng hazmats. We are acquiring about 500 hazmats, 800 isolation suits, mga masks, para ibigay sa ating mga frontliners," Delgado said.
(We mobilize funds to have hazmats. We are acquiring about 500 hazmats, 800 isolation suits, masks, that will be distributed to our frontliners.)
According to Delgado, the PPEs that the group will acquire will be given to the hospitals in Metro Manila as well as to medical facilities in other regions who need it the most.
"Mag-tulungan tayo (Let us help each other). Let us pray for the frontliners, let's support them, let us stay home, let us respect the order, and let us support the government," he added.