In response to the call for help from Batangas healthcare workers, De La Salle Lipa (DLSL) donated 1,235 purchased coverall suits as part of its Care for Front-liners Serving the Community (CARE FSC) campaign, Apr. 21.
CARE FSC seeks for the support of Lasallian students and partners in making their own personal protective equipment (PPE) sets which compromises splash guard aprons and face shields for donation as well.
According to Dfezie Tipan, chief strategic services officer of DLSL, the initial plan was to match the coverall suits with donations from Lasallians however, due to the difficulty brought about by the restrictions of the enhanced community quarantine, DLSL opted to focus on the coveralls first.
“While waiting for whatever people can create, inuna na rin natin yung coverall. […] We have been seeing postings from these hospitals calling for donations of these coveralls,” said Tipan.
As of Apr. 21, DLSL delivered the coverall suits, along with medical supplies from De La Salle Philippines, to Ospital ng Lipa, San Juan District Hospital, Metro San Jose Medical Center, Don Manuel Lopez Memorial District Hospital, Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery, and to the Lipa City Hall.
DLSL also opened the Chez Rafael Hotel to temporarily house 32 healthcare workers in response to the request of the Lipa City Private Hospital Association.
“Other than the accommodation facilities […] we offered them strong wifi connections so they can get in touch with their family members through social media,” Tipan said.
On the other hand, as the Luzon enhanced community quarantine took effect, DLSL immediately provided 500 relief packs to its neighbouring community, Sitio Fatima and Sitio Lorenzo under the Food for Families program at the time of COVID. Each relief pack is enough to last for 20 days.
“Ginawa muna natin yung una [distributing relief packs], kasi parang nag-aayos pa rin ang LGU noon kung anong gagawin sa kanila. […] So as an initial response kaagad natin, sa immediate community natin we provided that aid already,” Tipan said.
Tipan also said that a part of the unused donations for Taal rehabilitation and rebuilding was redirected to the COVID-19 efforts.
“Kasi the purpose of the fund was for emergencies that affect the community, and this is something that affects also our community, so a part of that was redirected to this,” said Tipan.
Tipan also said that DLSL administrators are already studying for other possible relief efforts that they could initiate to help Batangas frontliners and residents within the immediate community.
