Twenty-three UP Visayas (UPV) students from Negros Occidental who were stranded in Miagao and Iloilo City due to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) have gone home.
The UPV Office of the Vice Chancellor for Administration facilitated the May 5 travel of the students in coordination with the Office of Civil Defense Office of the Governor, Negros Occidental; and the Office of the Mayor, Bacolod City.
The undertaking followed two memoranda from UPV Chancellor Ricardo Babaran. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-04-052 issued on April 26 advised students to start making preparations for going back to their hometowns. Memorandum No. RPB 2020-05-055 issued on May 3 provided more details on what the students needed to do.
The later memo instructed stranded students to fill in a request for assistance form to be submitted to the Office of Student Affairs by May 5. As in the earlier issuance, Babaran reiterated that students should coordinate with their parents or guardians about their plans and the requirements on entry of their respective localities, such as quarantine protocols and passes.
Students were also reminded to secure medical certificates from the UPV Health Service Unit. Medical certificates and quarantine passes were needed at the border control gates for students to pass through.
UPV assured transportation to the airport or seaport from Miagao and Iloilo City for those who need to travel interisland. Fares for air and sea travel will be shouldered by the students.
The wearing of masks in public, physical distancing, and the use of disinfectants were also emphasized in the memo.
While students living in the main campus dormitories in Miagao were making preparations, they were provided daily meal vouchers by UPV until May 15 to be redeemed at the UPV Employees Cooperative cafeteria. The ECQ is expected to be lifted by May 16. Those living in Balay Ilonggo in the Iloilo City campus have been allowed to continue cooking their meals in the dorm kitchen. Other needs of stranded students will be considered depending on available funds.
Finally, UPV will only waive lodging fees up to May 15, following “budget cut directives from the national government.” The dormitories will undergo disinfection and sanitation after May 15 and will be prepared for the next school term. Only Balay Apitong in Miagao will remain in operation for graduating students.
(This was originally posted on the UP System website on May 21, 2020)