All Chapters on Deck

The U.P. Vanguard, Inc. (UPVI) launched its COVID-19 Response Initiative last 23 March 2020, which began with a plan to extend assistance to the students in UP Diliman who were stranded on campus due to the enhanced community quarantine, and to acquire personal protective equipment (PPE) for some brods in the medical profession. The Initiative has since grown into a multi-pronged project with many of the Chapters joining in to help the community as we continue to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many brods have answered the call for assistance by contributing to the fund drive, which has raised a total of P2,049,787.15 as of this writing. This amount has been allocated for the procurement of PPEs, and assistance to stranded students in the UP Diliman, Los Baños, Baguio, and Visayas campuses.

PPE Procurement

In support of brods Dr. Richie Ragaza ’77 and Dr. Gerry Manzo ’79, we have endeavored to procure 500 hazmat suits and 500 face shields for the Philippine Heart Center and the Amang Rodriguez Memorial Medical Center (ARMMC). We also received a donation of 1,000 surgical masks, 500 of which have already been picked up by ARMMC personnel. 

The procurement of 800 isolation suits is also in the pipeline. These shall be donated to the New Sinai MDI Hospital, La Union Medical Center, and Palanan Station Hospital in support of brods Dr. Bobot Masanga ’80, Dr. Nancy Paneda ’94, and Dr. Dorries Batang ’10.

The team headed by Vgd. Carlo Santos ’95 continues its procurement planning subject to availability of funds in order to address requests for assistance as they come.

The UPVI Capitol Chapter, led by brods Dr. Butch Ong ’93, Vgd. Albert Cabasada ’93, and Vgd. Alex Tamayo ’93, also donated face shields, cloth masks, and alcohol to COVID-19 referral centers: University of the East-Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial Hospital, Quezon City General Hospital, and ARMMC, and to the UP Diliman Police and Special Services Brigade.

This was made possible with assistance and donations from the UPVI University Chapter, UP DMST personnel, UP ROTC, UP ROTC Band, and Philippine Coast Guard.

Assistance to the UP Campuses

In UP Diliman, the Makati Chapter organized a feeding program, led by Vgd. Ray Apostol ’85, for 55 stranded students. The Chapter provided lunch and dinner starting March 25, 2020 and will continue doing so until the end of the Extended Community Quarantine (ECQ) period on April 30, 2020.

Makati Chapter also lent one washing machine each to Kalayaan and Sanggumay dormitories, and distributed 500+ face masks and 220 packs of meryenda to 8 dorms, and one gallon of alcohol each to 10 dorms, with the University Chapter providing logistics support and coordination assistance.

Two thermal scanners were also donated by Vgd. Jonah Jimenez ’86 to be used for the 2 of the 6 portals in UP Diliman. Alcohol donated by Vgd. Renold Verano ’05, surgical masks donated by Vgd. Tiger Trinidad ’77, and washable masks were also turned over to the University Health Service through Vgd. Spocky Farolan ’97.

In UP Los Baños, the UPVI Los Baños Chapter distributed 200 personal hygiene packs to brods, cadet officers, and students on campus. Brods and cadet officers also attended a workshop on DIY protective face shield making headed by Dr. Patricia Sanchez, Professor at the School of Environmental Sciences and Management, and wife of LB Chancellor.  The 500 DIY face shields they produced were distributed to the front liners in the UPLB Campus. The UPVI Panay-Negros Chapter and the UPVI Baguio-North Luzon Chapter have also begun planning for assistance efforts in their campuses.

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