UP Beta Sigma Fraternity – UP Visayas Chapter ramps up COVID-19 response, distributes medical supplies, sends relief in southern Iloilo

UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate two gallons of alcohol and three boxes of disposable face masks to the Municipality of Oton. The donation was received by Oton Municipal Administrator Juan Miguel M. Flores. — UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate two gallons of alcohol and three boxes of disposable face masks to the Municipality of Oton. The donation was received by Oton Municipal Administrator Juan Miguel M. Flores

The local chapter of UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) distributed 100 liters of alcohol and 1000 pieces of medical grade surgical masks to different health centers and hospitals in the first district of Iloilo, including the municipalities of Oton, Tigbauan, Guimbal, Miag-ao, and the UPV Infirmary and dormitories.

UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of disposable face masks to the Rural Health Center of the Municipality of Tigbauan. The donation was received by Tigbauan Tourism Officer Phoebe M. Torrico. — UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter members Mark Aaron Tinambunan (in black shirt) and Mon Francis Sorongon (in white) donate four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of disposable face masks to the Rural Health Center of the Municipality of Tigbauan. The donation was received by Tigbauan Tourism Officer Phoebe M. Torrico

The Fraternity is also providing 20 essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to the UPV health unit. The said PPEs are part of the project of UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Los Baños Chapter. The distribution was facilitated by Betan alumni Mark Aaron Tinambunan and Mon Francis Sorongon who are also residents of the first district.

Beta Sigma, in partnership with its sorority counterpart, UP Sigma Beta Sorority-UP Visayas Chapter, is also continuing its daily food drive effort to help stranded UP Visayas students in the municipality of Miag-ao. To date, the members of Beta Sigma and Sigma Beta were able to provide 12 sets of healthy meals to the stranded dorm residents in the past two weeks, and they will continue to provide meals to the students in the coming weeks.

UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates one gallon of alcohol to Balay Kanlaon Dorm in UP Visayas Miag-ao. The Fraternity donated one gallon of alcohol each to all the active dorms in UP Visayas, Miag-ao. From left to right: El Andro Obar, Mon Francis Sorongon, Balay Kanlaon Dorm Head Head Divina Punongbayan, Balay Kanlaon Dorm Representative Lara Shane Alcantara, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo

Last Monday, May 4, Beta Sigma also distributed fuel relief aid to frontline workers of the University. It handed Php120 worth of cash assistance to more than 40 workers belonging to different units of UPV.

According to one of its alumni, Atty. Doni June Almio, the increased relief effort is the “Fraternity’s response to the pressing need of the people in southern Iloilo during this crucial time of the pandemic.”

“We will continue to help our fellow Filipinos and UPV students because this is our sworn duty as responsible members of a larger community,” said Almio, who supervises the group’s relief effort. Almio added that “the entire membership and alumni of the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity in UPV are ready to extend essential aid so long as we have the resources for it.”

UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of face masks to Miag-ao Rural Health Unit. From left to right: Mon Francis Sorongon, Marv Aranjuez, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo, Dr. Jesel Cometa-Gellada, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan. — UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter donates four gallons of alcohol and four boxes of face masks to Miag-ao Rural Health Unit. From left to right: Mon Francis Sorongon, Marv Aranjuez, Kyle Dominic Barnuevo, Dr. Jesel Cometa-Gellada, L’Jude Mikkel Cortes, Mark Aaron Tinambunan

Almio also added that they are now preparing to provide water and snacks to UPV students who will be ferried home by the university officials in the coming weeks. Aside from this, he mentioned that the fuel relief for UPV workers will continue next week. He also thanked alumni members who donated to the group’s relief effort.

Founded in 1946, the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity is one of the oldest fraternities in the Philippines, with tens of thousands of members across the country. Its local chapter in UP Visayas is one of the leading fraternities in the campus.

*UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter at the Guimbal District Hospital with Admin Support Staff Shenly Kate Robles*

*UP Beta Sigma Fraternity, UP Visayas Chapter at UPV Balay Lampirong with Dorm Rep Patrick Casana.*

(This was originally posted on the UP System website on May 21, 2020)