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