APRIL 2020 BUzzette

The

BUzzette AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER

Bicol University, Legazpi City Telefax No. (052) 480-0167 www.bicol-u.edu.ph

APRIL 2020 | Vol. XII Issue 4

issuu.com/thebuzzette_bicoluniversity

ISSN 2094-3991

facebook.com/BicolUniversity

PRESIDENT’S OUTBOX

s the world continuously grapples A with the unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, there

is no doubt that the academe can offer a silver lining in this COVID-19 cloud.

The key is for universities to take a proactive role in extending its service beyond instruction and research, and fulfil its social responsibilities to its various clientele, stakeholders, and communities.

At Bicol University (BU), we take this commitment seriously. We understand that to be able to forge a strong community-university engagement, we need to move beyond the ivory tower by making our presence felt in these trying times. We understand that aside from pursuing academic excellence, we need to collaborate actively with our immediate communities if we are to realize our mission to become agents of social transformation and development. This is the driving force that propels our actions to openly welcome various sectors in our community by providing practical assistance to those who need it the most.

Early in the fight against this dreaded virus, we have heeded the call of our local medical frontliners by freely distributing improvised face shields produced in our BU College of Industrial Technology Fabrication Laboratory (BUCIT FabLab) as a show of support and appreciation for their sacrifices. While we cannot mass produce this protective equipment since the Fab Lab is not a manufacturing company, our pledge to train volunteers to produce their own face shields, is a testament to our unwavering commitment to use our expertise for the benefit of our communities.

We have likewise opened our gates to partner agencies as proof of our support to the local initiatives to curb the spread of the virus. To date, we have allowed the Bureau Pres Outbox | P7

Saving Lives - A sample of BUCIT Fablab’s improvised faceshield donated for COVID-19 frontliners with the help of their partners and sponsors.

BUCIT FabLab, partner organizations donate face shield equipment, alcohol-based sanitizers for COVID-19 frontliners

I

n response to the growing needs of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) frontliners, Bicol University College of Industrial Engineering (BUCIT) Fabrication Laboratory (FabLab) along with partner organizations designed and improvised face shield equipment and produced compounded alcohol-based sanitizers.

The face shield project was made possible through partnerships with Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) Albay, Inc., BU College of Industrial Technology, BU Extension Management Division, Handsoff Advertising, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) V, and other partners and sponsors.

On the other hand, the compounded alcohol-based sanitizer project was made possible through the initiative of BU Regional Center for Food Safety and Quality Assurance (RCFSQA), BU College of Science (CS) through the Chemistry Department, and BU Extension Management Division in collaboration with the Integrated Chemists of the Philippines (ICP) Bicol Chapter.

According to Prof. Ma. Crispina

News | P3

Feature | P4-5

BU-OSAS launches “Be with U” student assistance program

BUCN donates relief goods for its stranded students, alumni frontliners in various hospitals in Albay

Baltazar who coordinated with the compounding of the sanitizer, the concentrated alcohol and other chemicals were donated by BUCS, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Chevron, and other laboratories.

As of writing, a total of 513 face shield units has been produced according to BU Extension Management Division.

Meanwhile 62.5 litres of compounded alcohol-based sanitizers were donated along with the protective equipment to the different departments of Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), Philippine Red Cross – Albay Chapter, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) unit, University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital, Ago General Hospital, and other offices, hospitals, and frontliners fighting against COVID-19.

Interested donors and sponsors for the materials needed in making the face shield equipment and compounded alcohol-based sanitizers may contact the BU Extension Facebook account for details.

News | P7 BU to implement moratorium on all loan payments of GSIS members and pensioners due to COVID-19

2

The BUzzette

NEWS

BFP, local hospital, COVID-19 frontliners utilize BU facilities

B

ureau of Fire Protection (BFP) V occupies Bicol University College of Education (BUCE) Grounds as COVID-19 Shield Regional IATF. BU College of Medicine serves as the centre of operation of Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH).

Our COVID-19 frontliners temporarily residing in the BU Students Dormitory.

BFP | P6

AN EXECUTIVE NEWSLETTER EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Dr. Renelyn E. Bautista Associate Editor Gladys S. Serafica Circulation Manager Mary Ann M. See & Julie M. Isaac Layout Artist Cherry Grace H. Calisin News Writer Arnold C. Noda Photographer Cherry Grace H. Calisin Contributors: BU Extension, Prof. Esther Valladolid Editorial Consultants Dr. Helen M. Llenaresas & Dr. Reina O. Habalo Overall Consultant/Publisher Dr. Arnulfo M. MascariĂąas

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Chan

3

The BUzzette

NEWS

BU-OSAS launches “Be with U” student assistance program

T

he Bicol University Office of Student Affairs and Services is advocating the “Be with U” or “BUronyog” student assistance program as it supports one of its tenets: to provide an environment generally supportive of students’ welfare especially in times of crisis. This advocacy has 3 components: “TARABANGAN” A supplemental assistance and monitoring program for stranded students with the University Student Development Services Division, University Student Council and College Student Councils 0917 703 4031 0930 668 9482 0945 104 2650 “PAGHERAS” A student information assistance with University Institutional Student Program Services Division 0936 937 5671 0906 513 0151 0998 575 3104 “KAUGOS” A telecounselling assistance for students with University Student Welfare Services Division 0925 254 5242 0931 448 5355 0923 628 0612 0922 957 0534 For more info, please visit the BU OSAS fb page.

BU facilities to be Quarantine Centres for COVID-19

I

n its continuing initiatives to support the fight against COVID-19 and responding to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum from the Office of the Chairperson, Bicol University (BU) will open its facilities as Quarantine Centres or Community Isolation Units (CUIs) to help in containing the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). BU President Arnulfo M. Mascariñas has likewise agreed to the requests of public hospitals and Local Government Units (LGUs) in line with the directives and guidelines issued by CHED. According to President Mascariñas, BU has already approved

the request of Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital (BRTTH) in providing accommodation for the frontliners at the BU Men’s Dormitory. In addition, awaiting for the hospital’s official request, BU College of Medicine Building will be part of their operations centre.

President Mascariñas discussed an agreement over the phone with Hon. Elizaldy S. Co of AKO BIKOL party list and BRTTH Chief Dr. Butch Rivera regarding the initiative of placing tent hospitals at the BU Grounds to further aid BRTTH. An official request from AKB has been made duly endorsed by Dr. Rivera.

Meanwhile LGU-Gubat, Sorsogon

nge Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

requested BU Gubat Campus (GC) to be their CUIs. The BU Board of Regents (BOR) has already granted President Mascariñas the authority to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the concerned LGUs as issued by CHED in the use of school facilities as CUIs. By using BU facilities as CUIs, the university will also be accommodating Persons Under Monitoring (PUMs), Persons Under Investigation (PUIs), and confirmed cases of COVID-19 with mild symptoms whose home environment cannot support isolation according to the coverage of the guidelines issued by CHED.

FEAT

The BU

#BUCares COVID19 Prevention Initiatives BUCN donates relief goods for its stranded students, alumni frontliners in various hospitals in Albay

R

ecognizing the bravery of our unsung heroes, Bicol University College of Nursing (BUCN) distributed relief goods for their alumni Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) frontliners working in different hospitals in Albay.

BUCN Dean Dr. Maria Bernardita A. Palacio with some BUCN frontline nurse supervisors and staff nurses on duty assigned in CoVID and non-CoVID wards at the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital, Legazpi City show-off a three-page list of beneficiaries/ recipients, all graduates of BUCN main campus.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Chang

TURE

Uzzette

According to Prof. Esther Valladolid, BUCN College Student Affairs Coordinator (CSAC) and Unit Alumni Coordinator, a total of 177 BUCN alumni frontliners are working in Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital (BRTTH), University of Santo Tomas (UST) Legazpi Hospital, Estevez Memorial Hospital, Tanchuling General Hospital, Albay Doctors Hospital, Daraga Doctors Hospital, and Don Alfonso Bichara Memorial Hospital.

BU College of Nursing, Legazpi City faculty, retirees, alumni and friends locally and abroad reached out to BUCN alumni frontliners in government and private hospitals in the whole province of Albay at the height of the pandemic.

Prof. Dr. Celerino s. Palacio went all out in the distribution of relief goods to BUCN alumni frontliners, here seen with nurses of Daraga Doctors Hospital.

ge Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

Pansit bilaos with grocery packs and hygiene kits were distributed to BUCN alumni frontliners at the regional (BRTTH, Legazpi City), provincial (JBDAPH, Ligao city) and district (ZMDH, Tabaco City) hospitals in Albay and some private hospitals were included.

6

The BUzzette

NEWS

BFP | P2

BU admin releases salary, CA, other receivables to address financial needs of personnel

W

ith the brave and unselfish efforts of the Administration and Finance Division who tirelessly reported for work in the midst of the COVID19 threat, the Bicol University personnel are set to receive their Clothing Allowance, and January to March salary differential that has been deposited to Landbank and are set to be received today, April 6.

Among the rest of the BU personnel’s financial receivables that will be deposited to their respective accounts by April 8 are salary for April 1-15, salary differential from July to December 2019 of re-classed faculty including RATA for the month of April and wages from March 16-31 of Job Order personnel.

The extensive and immediate releases of the financial receivables of the personnel were ordered by the BU President Arnulfo M. Mascarinas to respond to the needs of the BU community brought about by the Enhanced Community Quarantine resulting from COVID-19.

A World-Class University Producing Leaders and Change

7

The BUzzette

NEWS

Moratorium implemented on all loan payments of BU GSIS members and pensioners due to COVID-19

B

icol University (BU) Office of the President issues Office Memorandum No.86, series of 2020 implementing a moratorium on all loan payments of GSIS members and pensioners due to COVID-19 in view of GSIS Circular No. 015, series of 2020.

Below is Office Memorandum No. 86, series of 2020.

Below is the GSIS Circular No. 015, series of 2020.

Pres Outbox | P1 of Fire Protection (BFP) V to use our BU College of Education (BUCE) grounds as one of the two decontamination facilities in the region including the BU College of Medicine as the Operation Center for Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital. We have also allowed our satellite campuses in Guinobatan, Albay and Gubat, Sorsogon to be used as quarantine facilities to house patients under investigation (PUIs) and persons under monitoring (PUMs).

Of course, BU can and will still do more. As an educational institution built upon the four core values of Character, Leadership, Scholarship and Service, we stand united with the rest of the world against this coronavirus pandemic. We are all in this together. With an abiding faith and trust in God, we will heal as one.

Read more news @

www.bicol-u.edu.ph @BicolUofficial

TheBicolUniversity

BicolUniversity

e Agents for Social Transformation and Development.

With the support from BUCN Dean Dr. Maria Bernadita A. Palacio, the voluntary donations were collected from BUCN faculty, retirees, and alumni.

Meanwhile three BUCN students who were stranded due to the enhanced community quarantine were also given cash assistance and relief goods collected from BUCN-College Student Council, faculty, and alumni.

Prof. Valladolid said that they will be visiting their students on a weekly basis to provide them goods and financial needs and report their situation to the BU Office of Student Affairs and Services (OSAS).

BUCN Professor Dr. Celerino S. Palacio with BUCN alumni frontliners at Daraga Doctors Hospital.