Central Mindanao University Academic Paradise of the South
With the continuing efforts to aid stranded students, Central Mindanao University through CMU Bayanihan set off the βHatid Estudyante Program.β This program aims to assist and help CMU stranded students to go home to their respective hometowns.
The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) headed by Prof. Raul EbuΓ±a and the University Senior Student Council (USSCO) sent communication letters to provinces where stranded students belong. These letters were addressed to the governors of the provinces with the intent of sending the students back to their provinces. Once the Local Government Unit (LGU) of these provinces agrees, the βHatid Estudyante Programβ would only need to wait for the general guidelines for Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs) for it to be fully operational.
By May 13, 2020, the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID19 released an order on operational guidelines on the management for Locally Stranded Individuals (LSIs). These guidelines indicated requirements for LSIs to be able to travel back home. These requirements were LSI medical clearance certificate and barangay certificate.
On May 27, as early as four oβclock in the morning, the first batch of stranded students was able to go home. Students were from Misamis Oriental, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, and Zamboanga Peninsula (del Sur, del Norte & Sibugay) via university bus while other students from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat, General Santos, Davao Oriental, and del Norte were transported via HI ACE van.
The second batch traveled on May 30 at three oβclock in the morning via a university bus. These students were from Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. A total of 121 students were able to travel home for the first and second batches.
On June 9, the third and probably the last batch traveled at three oβclock in the morning via university bus. There were 33 students for the second batch to travel from the CARAGA region since the first batch was able to go home on March 28.
Some students are still not able to go home, for they chose to stay. But with the transition of General Community quarantine (GCQ) to Modified General Community quarantine (MGCQ) on June 1 in Bukidnon, it will be easier to facilitate their travel back home if they change their mind. βWe are not closing our door to help students travel back home, given that they are fully decided to go home,β said USSCO president, Arth Vincent Oco. #ASJLAzuelo
