Eighty-nine students, faculty, and staff of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) took part in the CHMSUyanihan para sa Himamaylan food aid caravan on October 7, 13, and 14 in nine evacuation centers in Himamaylan City, where displaced families were temporarily sheltered due to violent clashes between the Philippine Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade and the CPP-New People’s Army rebels.
CHMSUyanihan is the university’s institutional response to help rebuild and restore communities in times of calamities and community emergencies.
In coordination with the Office of Himamaylan City Vice Mayor Justin Gatuslao, CHMSU distributed more than 1,506 food packs, 707 liters of drinking water, 778 hygiene kits, 50 children’s toys, and 10 boxes of biscuits and candies to 676 families including 20 military personnel in the 9 evacuation centers that were visited by the caravan.
These sites were End Time Church in Brgy. Caradio-an, Brgy. Caradio-an extension site, Brgy. Sara-et site, Brgy. Payao in Binalbagan (extension site), Sitio Tonggo in Brgy. Cabadiangan, Brgy. Carabalan Covered Court, Brgy. Carabalan Elementary School, Campayas Christian Church in Brgy. Carabalan, and the Regional Evacuation Center in Brgy. 3.
Nine students worked with the Art Relief Mobile Kitchen stationed at the old city hall for two days to help cook and prepare fresh meals to hundreds of families in evacuation centers.
Aside from the distribution of goods, psycho-social services and debriefing sessions were conducted by Guidance Counselors Aileen Tranquillo and Julian Sian to traumatized families. Student, staff, and faculty volunteers facilitated fun games and gave out snacks and toys for the children and youth in evacuation centers.*
