Constituent Universities’ Weekly Bulletin (Week 2)
(Week 2 | Updates as of 31 March 2020)
UP Diliman
Bayanihan spirit swells for constituents
Individuals, organizations, and university units offered services, facilities, and resources to help UP constituents cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and the enhanced community quarantine.
UP alumna Shamcey Supsup-Lee headed Miss Universe Philippines in donating food to stranded students through the Pedro and Coi’s “Biyaheng Busog” program. In a separate initiative, Bounty Fresh donated 1,000 kilos of chicken to the stranded dormers and personnel on campus.
The University Food Service for its part remained open to provide meals for stranded dormers and student athletes.
For students, the faculty, and staff, the UPD Psychosocial Services started offering “telepsychotherapy”. COVID-19 frontliners can avail of the services for free, after signing up at bit.ly/PsycServ, or calling 09167573157, or emailing [email protected].
Journalist and faculty member Kara David distributed 200 washable face masks and alcohol refill to household helpers, street sweepers, security guards, grocery workers, and vegetable sellers.
The College of Fine Arts housed 100 Lumad children in its new building. The Bakwit School teachers, however, expressed apprehension over their limited supplies and social distancing.
Constituents stepping up aid to frontliners, patients
Academic units are reaching out to one another, to the COVID-19 frontliners, and to government in fighting the COVID-19 menace.
The College of Engineering (CoE) created a COVID-19 response team headed by Dean Ferdinand Manegdeg, and is currently raising funds and resources for its proposals. These include:
- 3D Printing for frames of face shields for frontliners using CoE 3D printers to be pooled in the EEEI building.
- Designing a prototype adult ventilator for quick and cost-effective production.
- Tracking high-risk individuals in coordination with government agencies and telecommunciation companies.
- Fabricating a mobile plasma treatment apparatus, in coordination with UP Manila (UPM) College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital (PGH), to disinfect buildings, utilities, and equipment.
- Fabricating a cleaning chamber prototype that will be used to disinfect used personnel protective equipment (PPEs) using UV light.
CoE also proposed a project for the Patient and Health Care Worker Flow for PGH, a PGH COVID-19 Donation Tracking System, and a Knowledge Center, according to Technology Transfer and Business Development Office Director Luis Sison.
At the same time, UPD is collaborating with UPM and alumni in the De La Salle University faculty to provide coveralls, headgear disinfection, “SaniPod”, a negative pressure system, disinfection of PPEs, disinfection of intubation kits and telemonitoring team, a telepresence triage, telemetry of admitted patients, and teletracking of sent-home patients.
The College of Science (CS) reported providing assistance in COVID-19 testing through its equipment and personnel; and the College of Human Kinetics (CHK), to frontliners through production of “sanitents” or sanitation tents.
Some CoE, College of Fine Arts, and CS alumni designed sanitents to be used in hospitals and establishments, composed of PVC pipes, plastic cover, and matting. The design and chemical solution was being finalized.
The Department of Public Works and Highways has chosen UPD open areas as one of the plots for installation of prototype tents.
5.5 million seniors at high risk – UP Population Institute
According to the research done by the UP Population Institute, in collaboration with the Demographic Research and Development Foundation, among the estimated 9.5 million Filipinos aged 60 and above, 5.5 million have existing high-risk conditions, higher among women and among the rich segment of the population.
The study also analyzed data from the first 38 recorded deaths from COVID-19 and an overwhelming majority (89%) are in the age group 55 and older, most of them male.
UP Los Baños
UPLB continues to support its stranded students
As of March 26, UP Los Baños has continued to provide two meals per day to the 1,505 students who are still stranded in their dormitories and in private dormitory facilities in Los Baños and in Bay, Laguna.
The UPLB Administration continues to appeal to everyone to help sustain the initiative for UPLB students. In-kind donations are being accepted every day at the UPLB Main Gate at 9-11 AM and 2-4PM.
For financial support, please course financial donations to the following bank accounts used solely for this purpose:
Land Bank-UPLB Branch
Account Name: UPLB Foundation, Inc
Account No: 1892-1003-29
Bank Swift Code: TLBPPHMMXXX
PNB-UPLB Branch
Account Name: UPLB Foundation, Inc.
Account No: 2464-7000-1642
Bank Swift Code: PNBMPHMM
BPI (Current Account)-Los Baños Branch
Account Name: UPLB Centennial Fund
Account No: 0911-0139-83
Bank Swift Code: BOPIPHMM
Please email a copy of your deposit slip to [email protected] or send a message to the UPLBOfficial Facebook Page.
UPLB thanks everyone who have supported and continues to support its students.
Art Relief Mobile Kitchen helps feed 500 stranded UPLB students
Laguna-based veteran photojournalist and documentarian Alex Baluyot is helping feed 500 students stranded in UPLB through his mobile kitchen, Art Relief Mobile Kitchen (ARMK).
Art Relief Mobile Kitchen is a group of volunteers who believe in feeding the hungry through community kitchens. Their description in their Facebook page states that “we can and will cook food for the hungry. This is our creed.”
According to an article published in the Manila Bulletin, on Saturday, March 21, Baluyot and the ARMK cooked stir-fried vegetable chop suey to feed the estimated 500 students stranded inside UPLB. The following day, his team prepared hundreds of viands as well as nearly 200 ham sandwiches for both in-campus dormers and students living around the campus. On March 23, Baluyot and his team made 593 pork sinigang meals for the students, in addition to the meals they offered for the municipal frontline workers of Barangay Batong Malaki. The next day, they served the students chicken pochero and pork steak.
According to the same Manila Bulletin article, ARMK operates in different parts of the country. ARMK co-founder, Precious Leano, is also leading a mission drive in Batangas, where they are serving hot meals for the frontline workers at Batangas Medical Center.
Art Relief Mobil Kitchen can be contacted through Alex Baluyot (09989791629), Precious Leano (0917 828 8690), and Giselle Montero (0917 500 8836). Follow them on Twitter via @Art_Relief.
Another representative from the private sector, Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. (BAVI), also donated goods to stranded UPLB students, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines 2nd Battalion, UP Rural High School Alumni Group, and the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs (OVCSA) implemented “Oplan Hatid” to help students reunite with their families. UPLB escorted 94 students to their homes in NCR and CALABARZON. According to Rocky Marcelino, officer-in-charge of the Office for Student Activities, more trips will be made by the university in the coming days.
UP Beta Sigma-Los Baños Chapter calls for volunteers to make DIY PPEs
Resident members of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-Los Baños Chapter started working on DIY PPEs project last March 23 and has called upon volunteers for help.
The Fraternity, in partnership with the SM Foundation, Inc., also donated additional basic necessities such as food, toiletries, and other hygienic supplies to the dormitory residents inside the University premises. According to the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-Los Baños Chapter’s Facebook page, their donations were made possible through the continuous partnership of the Fraternity and SM Foundation, Inc., with the goal of spreading #SocialGood in the community.
“The UP Beta Sigma, together with its partners, will stand committed on helping the community amidst the CoVID-19 outbreak,” the Fraternity said in its Facebook post.
UP Visayas
UPV strengthens support for constituents amid COVID-19 crisis
Four days after the community quarantine directive was elevated by the provincial government of Iloilo to enhanced community quarantine on March 20, UP Visayas (UPV) announced the availability of psychosocial support services to its community.
Guidance specialists and psychology teachers may be contacted from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm via six mobile numbers: 0926-746-5671, 0917-486-1042, 0999-223-6498, 0908-131-4461, 0998-982-7383, and 0922-869-1097. Members of the UPV community may also send an email to [email protected].
For physiological ailments and concerns, the UPV Health Services Unit (HSU) started offering online medical consultations on March 27 via its Facebook account, UPV HSU Miagao Campus. Emails may also be sent to [email protected]. Alternatively, these numbers may be called from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm for health advice: 315-8301, 0918-564-1942, and 0945-699-4613.
The HSU also issues digital or electronic prescriptions to UPV constituents and their families for non-emergency and mild medical cases. For urgent medical attention and emergency situations needing consultations in person, the HSU is open 24/7.
To help residents acquire basic necessities and run essential errands, UPV has allotted Wednesdays as transport day for those living in the staff house and dormitories. Staff house residents have the 7:00 to 9:00 am schedule, while dormitory residents have the 1:00 to 3:00 pm schedule.
UPV’s COVID-19 Task Force has also established the UPV COVID-19 Complaint Unit, where members of its community may relay their concerns, file complaints, or ask about UPV’s COVID-19 response. The Complaint Unit may be reached through mobile number 0919-002-3698 or email at [email protected] or [email protected]. The mechanism has been in place since March 31.
UP Cebu
UP Cebu FabLab and other FabLabs in the Visayas race to produce face shields for medical frontliners
Around March 23, 2020, the UP Cebu FabLab began designing and 3D-printing face shield frames to contribute to the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) desperately needed by medical frontliners in the war against COVID-19.
The team of faculty members and staff at the UP Cebu FabLab who have been making the face shields consist of College of Communication, Art, and Design dean Prof. Palmy Marinel Tudtud, Prof. Mona Alcudia, Prof. Jay Nathan Jore, Fidel Laurence Ricafranca, Mark Argel Simacon, and Prof. Raymund Fernandez. The face shield frames they make using a laser cutter is attached to a sheet of plastic or acetate to create a face shield to protect frontliners against the coronavirus.
According to an email interview with UP Cebu Information Officer Vanessa Guerrero, the UP Cebu FabLab belongs to a network of fabrication laboratories where technology and innovation is shared. “Together with other Fablabs in the Visayas, the UP Cebu FabLab joined the community of maker-spaces in developing and producing PPEs for our brave Filipino medical frontliners working through the COVID-19 pandemic. UP FabLab opted to do the face shield as its materials can be easily sourced and mass production can be done fast and efficiently,” she said.
The UP Cebu’s face-shield production was initially backed by funds from UP Cebu Education and Research Foundation, Inc. (UPCERFI) and the laboratory’s own resources. The UP Cebu FabLab is being supplied materials by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). The aim, according to Guerrero, is to produce 500 face shields per week.
But with the increasing number of requests for face shields from hospitals and frontliners in Cebu, the UP Cebu FabLab has joined forces with the other FabLabs across the Visayas. “The need is overwhelming, and what we need now is to collectively help produce PPEs,” said Guerrero.
UP Cebu has posted on their website a how-to guide for other FabLabs seeking to fabricate five-minute face shields.
Since it started production, the UP Cebu Fablab has continued to donate the much-needed PPEs to hospitals and frontliners in need:
- On March 25, the UP Cebu FabLab donated 150 face shields to Vicente Sotto Hospital.
- The following day, March 26, 150 more face shields were donated to Chong Hua Hospital, Cebu Doctors Hospital, and Visayas Community Medical Hospital.
- On March 27, 50 face shields were given to Perpetual Succor Hospital.
- On March 28, 200 face shields were donated to Eversley Childs Sanitarium, Mandaue City Community Hospital, Lapu-Lapu Community Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital, and Talisay District Hospital.
- On March 30, 300 face shields were donated to Mactan Doctors Hospital, North General Hospital, Velez Hospital, Cebu City Medical Center, Arc Hospital, Mandaue City Community Hospital, and Lapu-Lapu Community Hospital.
- And on March 31, 260 face shields were donated to St. Vincent Hospital, Sogod District Hospital, Guba Community Hospital, Pulang Bato medical frontliners, Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation, St. Anthony Mother & Child Hospital, and the DTI Cebu.
The UP Cebu FabLab has been seeking support from the Cebuano community so it can continue production of the lasercut face shields and meet the demand. Please course donations of materials for these PPEs through [email protected]. The UPCERFI also welcomes financial support given through:
Account Name: University of the Philippines Cebu Educational and Research Foundation Incorporation
Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Lahug Branch
Account Number: 3611 0061 43
(This was originally posted on the UP System official website on April 3, 2020)