The De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) campus remains off limits to all students in all levels and to most of its employees in compliance with the quarantine restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, for necessary operations and special circumstances, the DLSL campus has safety measures that can grant entry to up to 280 individuals per day, which includes the 50 Lasallian partners that maintain the school’s on-site operation, Aug 17.
According to Institutional Safety, Security and Emergency Services Office (ISSESO) Director Michael Kasilag, Lasallian partners and even students who are 21 years old and above can enter the campus for a limited time but there are some restrictions according to safety guidelines and procedures mandated by the Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).
“Pwede naman [pumasok], pero as per guidelines ng IATF, may restrictions tayo sa movement or paglabas ng mga below 21 [years old] and ng mga senior citizens natin,” Kasilag said in an online interview.
Furthermore, Kasilag recommends the students to delegate their parents or any legal adult if their only purpose of entering school premises is to retrieve personal belongings they left inside their lockers or student offices.
Kasilag added that if students absolutely need to enter the campus due to matters that concern student organizations, they are also required to notify their respective dean or adviser beforehand.
“It’s not, for us, na para ayaw lang namin magpapasok […] Risky din sa mga frontliners na magre-receive sa inyo dito […] We are also taking the risk and it’s not only you,” ISSESO director added.
Moreover, Kasilag said that DLSL is still undecided on whether they will open the school facilities for students who are in need of internet access and other resources for the Borderfree academic year.
“Mahirap ko pang sagutin ngayon […] But we have protocols in place kung sakaling payagan [ipagamit ang school],” Kasilag stated.
As for the faculty, they can enter DLSL but they can only stay in specific areas within the campus. Only IT technicians, maintenance staff, and most ISSESO personnel, are conducting regular operations on campus.
Kasilag also clarified that even if some offices are currently operating inside the campus, they will only accept physical transactions for specific circumstances.
“Kagaya ngayon, may mga pinamimigay tayong check for student voucher, kinukuha ng mga magulang. But that is on a limited period tapos by schedule din siya,” Kasilag said.
However, if the circumstances allowed increased visitors entry, Kasilag assured that DLSL will be ready to accommodate students and other visitors.
“Araw-araw nag-di-disinfect din tayo ng buong campus. Kahit walang pumapasok nag-di-disinfect tayo, just to be on the safe side,” Kasilag said.
DLSL also requires its staff to wear protective equipment and all visitors to undergo safety procedures such as temperature check, hand sanitation and body misting to ensure the safety of everyone.
On a different perspective, some students shared their views and reaction regarding DLSL’s entry restrictions and guidelines.
BS Accountancy froshie, Herzie Alea expressed her disappointment as she cannot enter the campus on her first day of class as a college student.
“Sayang parang hindi ko man lang agad ma-e-experience yung campus […] Nakakalungkot pero I understand na it is for the best. Kasi syempre health muna,” said Alea.
For Madel Guico, a third-year BS Psychology student, it would help students like her if they could enter the campus to use some of its facilities for the upcoming academic year.
“Kung maiibsan lamang ang gastos ko sa pag-lo-load, hindi ako mag-aalinlangan pumunta sa lugar kung saan may free wifi,” Guico said.
Meanwhile, current BS Accountancy student coordinator, Glark Farol guarantees that even if students cannot enter the campus, DLSL can provide its services digitally.
“Parang lahat naman ng transaction sa school pwede mo na gawin online […] tapos yung iba pang offices ng La Salle pwede mo na rin silang i-contact sa e-mail, kaya hindi mo na talaga need pumunta sa campus para mag-seek ng transaction,” Farol said.
