Partner, ally, kaugop. This is what UP Visayas Tacloban College (UPVTC) advocates each and everyone to be in facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the Waray word, ugop, URUGUP is UPVTC’s institutional initiative in bringing together various sectors to help those in need in these trying times.
From collecting donations for the production of alcohol by its Chemistry faculty, researchers, and alumni to putting together and distributing relief packs to its stranded students off campus, URUGUP has been hard at work to continue the delivery of needed assistance.
While there are no students living on campus, there are those who remain in boarding houses and with friends and relatives because they cannot travel to their hometowns to be with immediate family. And UPVTC is doing what it can to provide for them.
On April 3, URUGUP provided the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center with 20 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol, Maasin City Hospital with 5 liters, and Abuyog District Hospital with 2.5 liters. The UPVTC Security Office also received 600 milliliters of 75% isopropyl alcohol and almost 3.8 liters of 80% ethyl alcohol. The following day, 1.5 liters of 75% isopropyl alcohol were given to personnel manning Tacloban entry and exit points.
As of April 13, URUGUP raised almost P60,000 in cash donations.
Faculty and staff have also banded together for UPVTC Puso. On April 1, UPVTC Puso donated the face shields it produced to frontliners in seven hospitals in Leyte and food packs to four barangays in Tacloban. Face shields and food packs were also given to UPVTC security personnel. Hygiene kits were distributed to 200 tricycle driver members of two associations.
On April 8, UPVTC Puso gave cash assistance of P1,000 each to 15 security guards on campus and to the nine security guards in the Sta. Elena property. They, along with the UPVTC Security Office, were also given face shields.
UPVTC is also cognizant of the importance of mental and psychosocial health, so it has made available the necessary support for affected individuals and communities in Eastern Visayas through its Psychology program.
Apart from this, the Division of Humanities and UP An Balangaw Performing Arts Group are using the arts to provide emotional and mental relief. Pasundayag Paghilom: Songs and Poetry for Healing at the Time of COVID-19 was launched for April’s National Literature Month and International Month of Poetry 2020. The video performances are available via UP An Balangaw’s Facebook page.
UPVTC’s call for partnerships through donations and whatever form of support continues as it maintains its commitment to serve not only its community, but the region of Eastern Visayas as well.
