CSC awards SLSU frontline workers for its COVID-19 initiatives
A certificate of appreciation was awarded to Southern Leyte State University (SLSU) for its unrelenting effort and extraordinary services rendered by the frontlines who are filled with admirable courage and dedication, and for forming their sworn duties in the midst of COVID-19.
The Civil Service Commission (CSC) conferred the recognition to SLSU during the virtual Appreciation Program for the Frontline Government Workers on September 27, 2021 in honor of government frontliners and their priceless contributions in mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other crises experienced since last year.
The SLSU Unified, Proactive and Progressive Response Extension Support Services (SUPPRESS) COVID-19 was one of the major initiatives of the university, in partnership with the local and provincial government units of Southern Leyte to address the needs of the communities brought by the pandemic.
On the onset of the pandemic, community needs were identified in coordination with the provincial and municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) and national and local Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the management of emerging infectious diseases.
The SUPPRESS initiative intends to develop and produce technologies and innovations to implement an enhanced institutional and community preventive measures against COVID-19 pandemic. The university was able to provide personal protective equipment (PPEs) for university frontliners, IEC materials, emergency food, and psycho-social counselling to seriously affected students and low earners employees.
It aims to reduce dependency of agricultural commodities from outside sources. It also contributes to self-sufficiency and self-sustainability of important farm inputs and other products through the establishment of the Bayan-Anihan: Aksyon Kontra Gutom initiative in partnership with university employees and barangay beneficiaries.
The College of Computer Studies and Information Technology (CCSIT) came up with research components through its extension project on "Empowering the Frontliners for Effective Community Quarantine Implementation" to address the challenges brought by the pandemic.
The Automated Contact Tracing System (ACTS) aims to record and monitor individuals’ movements within the province, the Centralized Border Access Control and Monitoring System which records vehicles and individuals going in and out of the Southern Leyte borders, and Offense Monitoring System which monitors individuals who violate the community quarantine protocols, and municipal and city ordinances.
SLSU has produced product innovations such as touchless mechanical liquid soap dispensers and faucets, automatic touch-free hand sanitizer dispenser, pattern analysis of persons under monitoring (PUM) and patients under investigation (PUI) in the province, and ultrasonic censored vehicle disinfection gate, among others. Washable facemasks, face shields, liquid hand soaps, disinfectants, and footbaths were also distributed.
The university has provided food and established food sustainability initiatives to the families of farmers in the nearby communities. Likewise, mental health programs and services were provided to students and employees to help them cope with the effects of the pandemic.
Being one of the higher education institutions (HEI) in the Visayas and the changing educational landscape, SLSU formed partnerships with local and provincial government units to establish SLSU-LGU kiosks to provide services to students with no gadgets and access to internet connection to address their academic needs. These kiosks are also used for farmers and fisherfolks who would like to avail learning materials to sustain its livelihood.
Trainings on making liquid hand soaps, disinfectants, and improvised face shields were provided to 200 households within the nearby communities of the university. Financial assistance was also provided to university students and employees who were identified as locally stranded individuals (LSI).
With the ongoing pandemic and cases still rising nationwide, SLSU continues to coordinate with the communities for support to address the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic as one.
The Appreciation Program for the Frontline Government Workers is part of CSC's Linggo ng Pasasalamat activities, part of its month-long 121st anniversary celebration, to recognize the valuable contributions of civil servants and frontliners.