BSU Opens Door to Calamity Victims
10.29.09 -JSTabangcura   

     The Benguet State University opened its doors to calamity victims by allowing temporary and permanent relocation sites within BSU owned areas.

     The permanent relocation site eyed in Tawang, La Trinidad is still under negotiation between the university and the La Trinidad and Benguet LGUs while the temporary relocation site is already set up by the members of Rotary International (District 3790, Cluster 1C) at the area in front of the Benguet Vegetable Processing Center in Km. 6, La Trinidad.

     The temporary relocation site is made up of about 30 tents or shelter boxes provided by the Rotary International. The site will be occupied for two months or until the end of the year, ‘to encourage a faster solution to the problems of the evacuees and so as not to create an atmosphere of dependency on their part’ as stated in the MOA for the project.

     Meanwhile, the university track oval served as a landing and take-off site for choppers bound for relief operations. The BSU gymnasium became a repacking center for relief goods to different agencies and organizations.

     The university was not spared by the two typhoons. Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng has likewise incurred damages to the university facilities, experimental lands and greenhouses. Students staying at the dormitories and at boarding houses were also affected because they could not receive their allowance or supplies due to the road cuts. Because of this the Office of Student Affairs, the Supreme Student Government and the BSU Alumni Association initiated efforts to collect donations for the affected students. As a result they were able to get donations from Congressman Dangwa, the BSU Multi-purpose cooperative, World Vision, DSWD-CAR, Ayala Foundation, the Benguet LGU and the LGUs of the different municipalities.

     Dr. Leonila Sito, Director of the OSA expressed her gratitude to all those who answered their call for help. She further commended students who despite of being affected by the typhoon preferred to make use of their time by doing volunteer work.

     BSU students volunteered in distressed areas such as in Tublay, Halsema Highway and in Little Kibungan. This prompted the Office of Student Affairs and some faculty members in partnership with the Baguio General Hospital Psychiatric Unit and the Philippine Mental Health Association to conduct debriefing activities to university students and staff who did volunteer work.

     The school was also able to collect donations from its constituents and entrepreneurial partners such as the wagwagan stall owners. The donations in cash were distributed to families of students and alumni who perished because of the typhoon, donations in the form of clothing were sent to Luneta, Antamok; Tadian, Mt. Province; Tublay; Mankayan and Atok.