NORZAGARAY, Bulacan-- Volunteer environment guardians of the mountain here, and some of their fellow Dumagat tribe members, were each given two washable face masks by the Wilderness Search and Rescue (WISAR) of the Philippines through their "Maskligtas" project on Sunday (July 26).
Bro. Martin Francisco, chairperson of the Sagip Sierra Madre Environmental Society Inc. (SSMESI), told Manila Bulletin that the happiness on the faces of the Dumagats, particularly the children, was heartwarming, as members of WISAR-Bulacan chapter led by Wenna Valdenor Ranola and Bryan Hebulan instructed them how to avoid COVID-19. The Dumagat children were taught how to use face masks and told to write their names on them.
Francisco said the face masks are a great help to the community, particularly the volunteer forest guardians, especially now that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province of Bulacan continues to rise.
"Ang tao, kapag talagang nais tumulong sa kapwa, lalo na sa yaong inakala mong madaling kapitan ng COVID-19, kahit gaano man ito kalayo, pupuntahan mo sila para mabigyan ng tulong at impormasyon kung paano ito maiiwasan at mabigyan ng pananggalang (If the people really want to help others, particularly those you believe are vulnerable to COVID-19, no matter how far they are, you'll go to them to give help and information how to avoid it and give them protection)," Francisco said.