The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order No. 1, s. of 2020 otherwise known as the Guidelines for the Grant of Assistance to State Universities and Colleges to Combat COVID-19 authorizes state universities and colleges to conduct research and extension services, including projects that will improve and intensify the government’s existing COVID-19 responses.
On March 30, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte had identified the efforts undertaken by CHED such as mobilizing higher education institutions (HEIs) to assist in the production and distribution of items (such as disinfectants, alcohol and face shields) for use by frontline service providers. CHED thereby issued the guidelines in response to this national emergency by allocating and utilizing funds towards mitigating the social, economic and financial impact of COVID-19 on Filipinos.
In this regard, the University of Rizal System (URS) had initiated the production of facemasks in the form of an extension project proposal which it had submitted to the CHED. A total of P480, 605 has been approved and allotted for the project. A total of 10,300 pieces of high-quality washable facemasks have been produced and were being distributed to COVID – 19 front liners.
On Friday, January 15, a public presentation of this CHED-funded extension project was done online. Dr. Nancy Pascual, president of URS, together with its project proponents, Dr. Reneecilia Paz De Leon, Prof. Bernadette Castalone, and Prof. Jameson Martinez were there for the presentation. // abcampo
