Day: September 9, 2021

The alarming cases of CoVid-19 only made West Visayas State University more motivated in consistently becoming agents of change and helping out communities in need. Thus, winning the support of the Iloilo City mayor himself.

Mayor Treñas met online with the WVSU representatives led by President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz and Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences, Dr. Celina Gellada,  to discuss matters regarding the University’s limited face-to-face classes of the medical courses and the proposal to utilize another floor at the WVSU Medical Center to help out with the CoVid situation in the city.

As to the limited face-to-face classes, Dr. Villaruz stressed. “We will be doing the cyclical system when it comes to face-to-face classes. With our classrooms retrofitted, only 50% capacity will be allowed per face-to-face session. We are still going to be faithful to the memorandum circular (of the Commission on Higher Education) that once the city is on General Community Quarantine, we will proceed.” As to the  4^th year medical students and those undergoing internships, they will be back to the hospital, no matter the community quarantine status is.

Treñas suggested that students must be first fully vaccinated before going back to the limited face-to-face classes. Dr. Gellada said that 75% of the 3^rd and 4^th year Medical students are fully vaccinated.

The mayor referred WVSU to the Iloilo City Covid-19 focal person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, who was also present during the virtual meeting,  for coordination regarding vaccination of all medical and nursing students before the implementation of the aforementioned mode of instruction. He also  said that if WVSU can gather 200 students, he would send a team to conduct the vaccination right there at the university.

Dr. Villaruz brought up the proposal on increasing the absorptive capacity of the University’s Medical Center, opening an additional floor with enough staff and equipment. Also, WVSU has applied for the utilization of university facilities for a human genome laboratory, so not all specimens will take time in Manila. He said, “We have proposed and submitted requirements. We will be helping out the city”. 

The mayor expressed his support by saying that he will sign the endorsement of the WVSU proposals to fast-track action and implementation. He even added, “Whatever WVSU will need, I will endorse.”

To note, WVSU is one of the 24 Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) who passed the assessment conducted by CHED, the Department of Health and the local Covid-19 Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID). # -CILPI

The West Visayas State University Crisis Management Committee recently discussed the limited face-to-face classes, health and safety protocols, and communication plans.

Presided by the Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences (VPMAS) and Assistant Incident Commander, Dr. Celina Gellada, the University Crisis Management Committee gathered for a virtual meeting.

The limited face-to-face classes supposedly to be implemented this academic year 2021-2022 has been delayed due to the  CoVid-19, especially that the Delta variant is affecting the city and also because of Iloilo City being under the Modified Enchanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). Dr. Joselito Villaruz, WVSU president and the Incident Commander of the Committee , clarified that the limited face-to-face classes will only be allowed in areas, which are under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and the University should strictly maintain health and safety measures.

Safety Officer and the Director of the University Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, Mr. Ian Van Sumagaysay presented updates on safety and health protocols implemented in the campus. The University is prepared when it comes to retrofitted classrooms, signage and directions, and policies approved by the Board of Regents. The University also has its own holding/quarantine facility, just in case there will be cases.

Dr. Roumila Mendoza of the College of Medicine shared that some students have problems when it comes to their boarding houses, because some boarding houses are not meant for quarantine—the bathrooms and toilets are for common use of the tenants—and also some students were discriminated because they were part of the contact tracing list. One incident was, one student had to be forced out of her boarding house.

Mr. Julius Undar, the Chief Administrative Officer of the University and Operations Section and Logistics Chief, updated on the number of vaccinated faculty and staff: As of September 3, 74% of the faculty are fully vaccinated; 76% of the regular staff and of the job order employees, respectively, have already received full doses.

The Center for International Linkages and Public Information (CILPI), with its director Ms. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka presented a communication plan, which focuses on townhall and stakeholders’ meetings, information campaigns, and press releases, including the updating of data on CoVid 19 cases and vaccination to be included on the FaceBook page and the University website.

The University Crisis Management Committee was formed early this year to prepare the University for possible limited face-to-face classes and to ensure monitoring of safety- and health-conscious University operations.

For the public to see the University policies and protocols on safety, they can visit https://www.facebook.com/wvsudrrmc or https://www.facebook.com/wvsu .  # -CILPI