Pangasinan Hatid Estudyante program fetches 27 UPLB studes
The Hatid Estudyante program of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan continues to facilitate and fetch stranded students from COVID-affected areas outside the province.
Some 27 Pangasinense students of University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) were fetched by the provincial government at the UP Los Baños in Laguna to be brought back to their respective hometowns on May 28.
The provincial government coordinated with the UPLB Office of the Student Affairs to arrange the rescue operations.
UPLB Office of Student Affairs Director Rocky Marcelino commended Governor Amado I. Espino III for facilitating the return of Pangasinense students from the university.
“Malaking bagay po ito dahil marami po ang gustong-gusto nang makauwi sa kanilang pamilya,” Marcelino said.
“Nitong May, ang provincial government na ang nag reach-out at mag-update para makauwi ang mga estudyante,” Marcelino disclosed that the request was earlier made in April but due to strict quarantine protocols, the operation was postponed.
Marcelino added that students were also under quarantine during their stay at the university dorm to ensure their safety against COVID-19 before their return to Pangasinan.
“Pinapadalhan na namin sila ng pagkain, supplies at disinfectants para hindi na sila lumabas,” Marcelino stated.
He also noted that UPLB remains COVID-19 free.
Hence, he assured that all stranded students from UPLB completed the required documents, such as medical certificate and travel authority from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Los Baños.
Students were all dropped off to their respective local government units (LGUs) where they were assessed for quarantine. Among the students who returned home were from: Urdaneta City (5), San Carlos City (5), Bayambang (2), Lingayen (2), San Nicolas (2), and 1 each for Manaoag, Mangatarem, Alaminos City, Binmaley, Calasiao, San Fabian, Sta. Barbara, Tayug, Villasis, Pozorrubio, and Bolinao.
One of the students expressed her gratitude to the provincial government and UPLB for the effort of assuring the welfare of the students during this pandemic.
“Thank you po sa provincial government at kay Governor Espino sa pagpapadala ng provincial bus para masundo kaming mga estudyante,” said Faye Marie Cahapay, a graduating BS Nutrition student of UPLB.
“Ngayon po panatag na po ang aking magulang dahil makakasama na nila ako after how many months na nandito ako,” she added.
It can be recalled that the provincial government also staged Hatid Estudyante program in Baguio City, namely: Saint Louis University (SLU) and University of the Cordilleras (UC).
The first batch of Hatid Estudyante program in Baguio City rescued 39 stranded students on May 22 while the second batch was composed of 46 stranded students including 3 parents and an employee who were fetched on May 25.
/Shiella Mae C. De Guzman (Photos by Jin Perez & Romulus Gutierrez III)
