Stranded studes find help in the heart of Vizcayano volunteers
Jonathan Ancheta, a self supporting student of the Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU) in Bambang town was left with no option but to stay put when the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) was declared in Luzon.
In the early days of April, he, along with others who were renting boarding houses in various barangays of Bambang town was already draining their allowance and worst, they were not given assistance within their community for not being bonafide residents.
“I was forced to do work for my friends just to earn for my daily food and other needs. It is good that I have friends who helped in a way possible,” Ancheta, who hails from San Nicolas, Pangasinan said.
Hope for help came when he came to know an aid giving activity of volunteer groups in Facebook chat group.
His spirit was lifted up when he learned that a group of volunteers from the Alpha Phi Omega International Service Fraternity and Sorority (APOISFS) started a campaign to raise funds for feeding and food pack assistance to the distressed and stranded students.
Resident and alumni members of the collegiate fraternity here and abroad shared their assistance in cash and in kind and started the feeding and food assistance for the stranded NVSU students and further expanded to several poor villagers of the town, including frontline health workers.
“it was all that we could do to somehow address the lowly situation of our stranded students of NVSU. This is indeed needed especially during this ECQ period,” said Melvin Murao, a member of the APO Theta Epsilon Chapter Alumni Association.
Through linkaging with the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) of barangay Banggot, Municipal Local Government of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya Electric Cooperative (NUVELCO), and the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT), among others, help came for the more than 70 stranded students.
Jeannie Alexandra Felipe, SK president of barangay Banggot said their 2014 to 2018 savings will be realigned for relief activities until April 30.
“This will benefit our stranded students of NVSU along with our poor villagers who are still coping with the ECQ woes,” she said.
The assistance include, thrice a week regular ready-to-eat food and food pack distribution while the NVSU and the Provincial Government also provided financial and food assistance to several stranded students.
Recipient students of the various assistance were from Maddela, Quirino; La Trinidad, Benguet; Rosario, La Union; Sorsogon; Cotabato City; Masbate; Cavite City, Santiago City, Quezon City, Kalinga, Tarlac, Alfonso Castaneda, Nueva Vizcaya; Mayoyao, Ifugao; Nagtipunan, Quirino; Dupax del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya and Metro Manila as well.
The distribution of the various assistance for the stranded NVSU students was made easily with the creation of a Facebook chat group.
“We are very grateful for the accommodation and assistance during our stay in Bambang town. We hope that we can cope up with the situation ahead,” Ancheta said.(MDCT/BME/PIA 2-Nueva Vizcaya)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1040095