STUDENT organizations in UST General Santos (GenSan) launched a donation drive for victims of the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the Soccsksargen and Davao regions on June 8.
The UST GenSan Rotaract Club, in collaboration with ThomaSox Media and UST GenSan Central Student Council (CSC), announced on June 8 the campaign “Tabang Heneral: A Donation Drive for Earthquake Relief.”
The groups invited the public to “extend a helping hand” and help “bring hope and relief” to affected individuals.
“In times of crisis, every act of kindness makes a difference. Through this initiative, we aim to provide immediate assistance and essential support to affected communities as they begin their journey toward recovery and rebuilding,” the GenSan Rotaract’s Facebook post read.
Donors can send cash, which will be used for the purchase of medicine and food packages, and in-kind items like canned goods, bottled water, and hygiene kits.
In-kind donations can be dropped off at Guinto Street Park Masunurin, Barangay San Isidro, General Santos City, while monetary donations may be sent through the accounts indicated in the Rotaract Club’s Facebook post.
As of June 10, the donation drive has gathered a total of P74,742 in cash donations.
The General Santos Council of Rotaract Clubs, a network of Rotaract clubs based in General Santos City, will also assist in the donation drive.
UST GenSan CSC President Andre Tan told the Varsitarian they were doing constituency checks across academic units to extend assistance to those in need.
“Thankfully, there aren’t any reports at the moment of Thomasians in-need of assistance after the disaster that occurred,” he said.
“They (Rotaract Club) have a vast network, and we plan on collaborating with them to organize a donation drive that will benefit those in need, extending our reach to the wider community of our region,” Tan added.
In a June 9 statement, UST GenSan said it was conducting safety measures and structural assessments in coordination with the local government to determine its next steps.
“We call upon the community to keep Mindanao in your prayers and, where possible, to extend tangible support to those affected,” the statement read.
Dennis Manejero, director of UST GenSan’s Facilities Management Office, earlier confirmed there are “no casualties” in the Mindanao campus as the disaster struck before class and office hours.
However, a number of structures and facilities, including the cross tower of the new GenSan Main Building, were damaged.
Manejero said these areas remained off-limits pending further inspection.
Based on the update from the Office of Civil Defense on June 10, 45 deaths had been recorded, while 600 people were reported injured and 17 were missing.
General Santos City, where intensity seven or “destructive” classification was reported, has been placed under a state of calamity following the earthquake. With reports from Czeantal Naomi P. Delos Santos
