UP community mobilizes in response to Typhoon Carina

By UP Media and Public Relations Office on July 25, 2024

Typhoon Carina (international name: Gaemi) has had a severe impact on the country, including several campuses of the University of the Philippines (UP). Thousands of staff, students, and faculty members within UP's constituent universities have been forced to cope with flooding, landslides, and infrastructure damage caused by the torrential monsoon rains. The situation has necessitated urgent relief operations for communities in need, with over 600,000 individuals affected and a state of calamity declared in Metro Manila, Cavite, Batangas, and areas in Rizal and Oriental Mindoro.

The University of the Philippines System, through the Padayon Public Service Office under the Office of the Vice President for Public Affairs (OVPPA) headed by Vice President for Public Affairs Roland Tolentino and Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs Jeanette Yasol-Naval, has initiated a monitoring and reporting system via their Facebook Page in order to gauge the damage to the community and help coordinate assistance and relief efforts.

UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Lagmay has also called on the public to utilize Project NOAH—also known as the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards of the University of the Philippines—to check for flooding in their location and to help improve it by sending real-time photos for updates.

Immediate relief efforts in UPD

The majority of community reports came from UP Diliman (UPD), which was hardest hit by the typhoon. The reported concerns included flooded areas and houses, fallen trees and electric wires, lack of access to food due to non-stop rains, and impassable streets.

To address these immediate concerns, the Padayon Public Service Office coordinated with the UPD Information Office, the UPD Office of the Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs (OVCCA), and the UP System Office of Student Development and Services (OSDS) to publicize a call for donations and set up mechanisms for receiving and distributing meals and hygiene kits for members of the UPD community, especially students stranded in dormitories.

The University Student Council also launched a donation drive called IskoOPs for families and communities that are affected by the Typhoon Carina.

In addition, Padayon requested medicines for flu, cough, colds, and prophylaxis for leptospirosis for the UPD University Health Service, upon the request of the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs.

The OVCCA also provided emergency hotlines to enable Barangay UP Campus residents to communicate emergencies and request support from barangay officials, while the OSDS launched a Student Incident Reporting System to gauge the safety concerns and other related needs of the students.

Currently, the UP Diliman Police Office has become the drop-off point for donations. The Padayon Public Service Office has also launched an ongoing call for financial donations, which can be utilized for the other UP units in need of assistance, such as UP Manila.

The Media and Public Relations Office (MPRO) and Office of Alumni Relations (OAR), both also under the OVPPA, have amplified the call for donations and assistance through their various online platforms. Other units, including the Ugnayan ng Pahinungód, have likewise joined in the efforts to popularize and disseminate calls for support.

Initiatives in UPM and UPLB

UP Manila (UPM) also experienced heavy flooding. UPM Chancellor Michael Tee credits Philippine General Hospital (PGH) Executive Director Gerardo Legaspi for acting quickly to send food to the students in dormitories trapped by the typhoon, while the PGH ambulatory Emergency Room also provided leptospirosis prophylaxis for staff and students who waded in floodwater.

UP Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor Jose Camacho reported that the situation in their campus after Carina is under control and manageable. Clearing efforts were done this morning.

Despite the suspension of work in government offices today, a skeletal staff from the UPLB Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (OVCAA) and the Office of the University Registrar reported for duty to process the admission of incoming freshmen and their parents who arrived in UPLB this week, since a number of them came from as far as Cotabato, Masbate, Romblon, and nearby provinces. They also provided a dropbox where documents can be submitted and monitored by security staff.

The coordinated efforts of Padayon, UPD, UPM, and UPLB have been instrumental in mitigating the devastating impact of Typhoon Carina for members of the UP community. Several colleges and organizations within UP are also now working to extend aid and participate in relief and rebuilding efforts for the rest of the affected Philippine regions.