Silliman University in Dumaguete City will distribute food packs to students, senior citizens, and its outsourced personnel from April to June 2021, following the donation made by Dr. Mariano Lao, 2018 Outstanding Sillimanian awardee.
The first distribution will be on April 29 at the Dr. Mariano and Lina Lao Activity Center and Technology Laboratory, inside the SU Junior High School department, a press release from SU said.
In a letter dated April 1, Lao collaborated with the University for the distribution of food packs.
Lao’s donation of P164,400 funded the SU and Dr. Mariano C. Lao ICI Laboratory Emergency Assistance Program, that includes the food pack distribution.
SU Vice President for Development, Jane Annette Belarmino, said the food packs will be distributed to 140 displaced outsourced personnel, and 60 qualified students and senior citizens per month for three months.
Belarmino added that the Office of Student Services, led by Dean of Students Edna Gladys Calingacion, will identify students who are most in need of food assistance while the SU Church will help in identifying senior citizen beneficiaries.
The SU Cafeteria will prepare food packs worth P274 each, that will contain 5kg of rice, two cans of sardines, and two packs of instant noodles.
“This is a manifestation of the empathy and care our alumni and friends have for others, following the teachings of our Via, Veritas, Vita. The Lord has blest Silliman University and our alumni and friends, so that we, in turn, can bless and give to others,” Belarmino said.
Last year, Lao donated P30,000 to provide food and cash assistance to students, who were stranded when the province was under the Enhanced Community Quarantine, and another P30,000 for SU’s displaced outsourced personnel, who had to stop working because of quarantine restrictions. In 2020, Lao also established an SOS Fund in the University as a financial support program for students in emergency situations, and the Dr. Mariano Lao Educational and Emergency Support Fund, an emergency short-term, non-interest, and non-collateralized loan program to help financially-challenged enrolled students and active and retired SU personnel amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Both programs continue to accept applicants throughout the year, the press release added.*
