Hospital staff receiving some of the donated personal protective equipment from the UP Beta Sigma Fraternity (photo from UP Beta Sigma)
LOS BANOS, Laguna – True to its principles of brotherhood and service, a University of the Philippines (UP) fraternity launched a drive to send much needed support to frontliners battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.
The UP Beta Sigma Fraternity through its Operation Big Brother program, held a fund drive where gathered donations were used to purchase needed equipment and supplies to various hospitals and other institutions.
“Our fraternity lives up to our ideals of service to the community. Our annual Operation Big Brother program shifted to the COVID response project. We help the community by providing relief during disasters, gifts during Christmas, and medical missions. Now, we respond to the crisis by bringing together our brothers in serving the stranded students, UP personnel and staff frontliners, and the frontliners in public and private hospitals in Laguna,” said Rupert Ambil.
Through the donations of several stakeholders, alumni, and friends, the organization was able to received P650,106 cash and in-kind donations that enabled them to do the following:
- Production of 1,633 face shields that were donated to 19 hospitals, health centers, police and military
- P110,400 to support the stranded students in UP Los Banos through a donation to the University Housing Authority and procurement of food, water, and hygiene kits.
- 510 personal protective equipment (PPE) suits procured for 16 hospitals in Laguna.
- Oplan Hatid was able to distribute P28,000 worth of food and water support for the frontliners and students of UPLB and P21,000 worth of surgical masks distributed to students.
Recipients of initiative of UP Beta Sigma were thankful for the donations, further saying that these donations will greatly help the fight against COVID-19.
“Please know that your support in these difficult times is very much appreciated by your beneficiaries,” Dr. Rene Bagamasbad of Laguna Provincial Health Office said in a letter to UP Beta Sigma.
The fraternity will continue working with several organizations to alleviate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Kami po ay nandito para tulungan ang mga bayani sa bayanihan,” Ambil added. (Rommel F. Lopez)