UP MINDANAO BULLETIN

4‒17 May 2020

CHANCELLOR’S MESSAGE

To the UP Mindanao community:

Madayaw! I hope everyone is well!

Davao City is now under the General Community Quarantine and some restrictions are eased. But I urge everyone to remember that we are still in quarantine, and many provisions during the ECQ are still in effect. Kindly refer to the Davao City Executive Order no. 33 for more information: https://bit.ly/3cDQay7

Also, from today until the end of May, the existing work-from-home arrangements, as well as the skeletal force (based on 18 May 2020 list of approved personnel), shall remain in effect. We shall start the physically reporting for work schedule on 1 June 2020 to give us more time to attend to our academic and administrative preparations, such as our alternative work arrangements and the review of our deliverables. The full guidelines are available here: https://bit.ly/3bAdmvM  

Furthermore, please be reminded of the presence of COVID-19 isolation centers in the campus. Because of this, we have formulated measures to isolate these facilities from the rest of the UP Mindanao campus, such as designated routes for vehicles going to UP Mindanao separate from those accessing the facilities and placement of barriers and checkpoints in strategic locations, just to name a few. Full guidelines here: https://bit.ly/2T2DetO

Stay safe! We will get through this together!

—Prof. Larry N. Digal, PhD, Chancellor

UP MINDANAO COVID-19 CASE TRACKER (as of 17 May 2020)

Constituents	Respondents	Suspect Case*	Probable Case*	Confirmed Case*	Non-COVID 19 (Negative Test)*
Students 1	383	0	0	0	0
Teaching staff 2	58	0	0	0	0
Non-teaching staff 2	49	0	0	0	0
Non-UP contractuals 2	12	0	0	0	1
1 Based on Student Tracking Survey of the Office of Student Affairs (as of 14 May 2020) 2 Based on Personnel Tracking Survey of the Human Resources and Development Office (as of 17 May 2020)

*NOTE: The Department of Health has issued a new case classification based on additional epidemiological information on COVID-19, adapting certain provisions of the WHO interim guidelines on global surveyance, in its Administrative Order no. 2020-0013 (LINK: https://bit.ly/2XFPO58).

For the purposes of this survey, confirmed and non-Covid-19 cases are based on results of actual tests undertaken by personnel in an approved testing facility, while suspected and probable cases are based on the classification system as provided for by the above-mentioned DOH memorandum. Without mass testing, asymptomatic individuals may not be properly categorized as they do not fit the definition of “suspect” (must have symptoms) and “probable” (must be tested or awaiting results) cases given by the said order.

GUIDELINES FOR WORK

All personnel shall continue current arrangements for work-from-home and skeletal force (based on 18 May 2020 list of approved personnel) until 31 May 2020.

Meanwhile, the units shall:

-        Constitute their cluster teams that will monitor the implementation of alternative work arrangements and submit this to the OC by 21 May 2020

-        Define the essential work vs. the priority work of their units by 22 May 2020

-        Submit their unit’s Schedule of Alternative Work Arrangements to HRDO by 22 May 2020

-        Complete the combination of WFH and PRW within the next eight weeks, including e-government systems that shall have pertinent forms available and submissions accepted in online portals.

A copy of the full guidelines may be downloaded here: https://bit.ly/3bAdmvM  

UPDATE ON STRANDED STUDENTS

Twenty-three UP Mindanao students, one UP Diliman student, and one UP Los Baños faculty member successfully returned to their respective hometowns on 6-8 May 2020. Ten more students from Davao Region (5), Zamboanga (2), Palawan (1), Cebu (1), and Iloilo (1) are awaiting their turn. The repatriation was spearheaded by the Office of Student Affairs in coordination with the Office of the President‒Presidential Management Staff (PMS), the Office of the Special Assistant to the President, the Davao City Tourism Office, and the City Government of Davao.

The OSA thanks the organizations who gave donations and provided support to the stranded students: the UP Mindanao constituents, the UP Mindanao University Student Council and other student organizations, the All UP Academic Employees Union-UP Mindanao Chapter, the UP Alumni Association-Davao, the UP Mindanao Alumni Association, and the following organizations: UP Beta Sigma Fraternity-UP Mindanao Chapter, UP Sigma Beta Sorority, Alpha Phi Omega‒Lambda Nu Chapter, and UP Omega Alpha Sorority

UP MINDANAO COVID-19 INITIATIVES AND PARTNERSHIPS

COVID-19 Isolation Facilities in the UP Mindanao Campus

UP Mindanao granted the request of the City Government of Davao for the use of the Davao City-UP Sports Complex Multi-Purpose Gym and the Faculty-Staff Housing Building as COVID-19 isolation centers. A memorandum of agreement will be signed by the City Government, UP Mindanao, and the DPWH, covering a period of three months. For the protection and guidance of university personnel, the Executive Committee has approved the “Guidelines and Protocols for Covid-19 Isolation Centers in the UP Mindanao Campus.” Link:https://bit.ly/2T2DetO

“COVID-19 Insights” Online Dashboard

"COVID-19 Insights,” the web-based platform and dashboard developed by the UP Mindanao Interdisciplinary Applied Modelling (IAM) laboratory, is already "live." It earned about 300 views in 3 days after the link was shared to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA). The link: https://upmindanao.shinyapps.io/covid19-insights-up-mindanao/

In response to the MinDA project “Flattening the Curve for Mindanao,” UP Mindanao delivered a proposal that listed the research questions to be studied and the requirements for data collection, to accomplish the COVID-19 forecasts needed by Mindanao leaders.  

Recently, Malayan Colleges Mindanao accepted the invitation of UP Mindanao to a joint application for a DOST-NICER research grant for the creation of a Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Modeling and Data Analytics of Infectious Diseases (IAMDAID).

PGC Mindanao and DRMC Diagnostic Lab

As of 13 May 2020, all parties have reviewed and signified their approval of the Memorandum of Agreement for the establishment and operation of the DRMC Diagnostic Laboratory. The MOA-signing will be done when all the parties are available, namely, the provincial government of Davao del Norte, the city governments of Tagum, Samal, and Panabo, the DOH-Davao Regional Medical Center, and UP Mindanao/Philippine Genome Center-Mindanao.

Meanwhile, the PCR machine donated by Maer Summit Konstrukt Co. was installed on 13 May 2020 in the CSM lab and was immediately used in the training for lab personnel.

Joint Intensive Training Program on SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics

The Southern Philippines Medical Center, through medical center chief Dr. Leopoldo Vega, agreed in principle to the offer of UP Mindanao for a Joint Intensive Training Program on SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics, for personnel of organizations interested in setting up a COVID-19 facility. UP Mindanao will draft the memorandum of agreement for the review of the parties.

Capacity Building for City Government Testing Facility

The City Government of Davao requested UP Mindanao to lend its expertise in the plan to convert the Davao City Los Amigos Health Center into a COVID-19 testing facility. A UP Mindanao team conducted an inspection of the site on 5 May 2020 together with the city council, health, and engineering officials.

Meanwhile, the Davao City Filipino-Chinese Community thru its convenor, Chairman Johnny Go, donated seven PCR kits and four Extraction Kits to UP Mindanao, that are now in the CSM lab. These are from the efforts of Mr. Sebastian Angliongto, chairperson of the UP Mindanao Foundation Inc. (UPMFI).

In addition, the UPMFI has requested SM Investments Corporation, through its vice-chairperson Ms. Tessie Coson, to donate a real-time PCR machine, an extraction machine, and a biosafety cabinet, for the Davao City COVID-19 testing lab.

Mental Health Helpline

UP Mindanao Mental Health Helpline reported that a total of 36 persons have availed of its services as of 14 May 2020. The program is ongoing and open to students and employees of the university.

STUDENTS: http://tiny.cc/UPMinMentalHealthHelpline

EMPLOYEES: http://tiny.cc/MentalHealthHelpline

Donations

-        The Philippine Genome Center (PGC)-Mindanao issued a Call for Donations for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), ethanol, and bleach for use of their trainees in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics. The UP Alumni Association responded with a new round of fund-raising that raised a substantial amount from its members and networks.

-        UPSTREAM Foundation has agreed to receive donations for UP Mindanao in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

-        A UP Mindanao guard from Kidapawan, who is temporarily housed in EBL dorm, gave birth to her baby in a Mintal lying-in center. Donations are solicited. Our nurse identified her needs as diapers, milk (Bona), lampin (gauze cloth), planela (flannel cloth), bigkis (baby belly binder), baby clothing or pajama, sanitary alcohol, baby bottle, baby soap, cotton balls/buds, baby wipes, and thermos bottle.

LEARNING AND TEACHING

OVCAA Online Survey

The OVCAA has an on-going online survey to gather data on how best to facilitate communication between faculty and students, provide them with the learning materials, and inform the administration on students' concerns, problems, and issues. As of 15 May 2020, 475 of the 836 UP Min students (57%) have responded to the survey. The current results are available here: https://bit.ly/3bFyfFU

INTERNATIONALIZATION

MOU with University of Western Australia

UP Mindanao, through Chancellor Digal, signed a general memorandum of understanding on 28 April 2020 with University of Western Australia, represented by Mr. Callum Cowell, director of the UWA Global Engagement Office. The MOU will enhance relations between UWA and UP Mindanao by developing possibilities for academic and cultural interchanges in teaching, research, and other activities within the next five years.

Reference Materials

DBM Budget Circular 580. Adoption of Economy Measures in Government due to the Health Emergency Situation.  https://bit.ly/35m5yMK

Office of the President. Implementing Guidelines on the Second Semester AY2019-2020 in the time of COVID-19. https://bit.ly/3d4oodF

UP System coronavirus advisories and prevention guidelines: https://bit.ly/2UCQS80

COVID-19 RESPONSE TEAM

Area	Lead person/s	Contact details
Overall	Prof. Larry N. Digal, PhD (Chancellor)
Instruction and academics	Lead: Prof. Nilo B. Oponda, PhD (Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs) Deans Department Chairs/Program Coordinators
Research	Lead: Prof. Emma Ruth. V. Bayogan, PhD (CARIM Director) Deans Department Chairs/Research Committee Chairs
Public Service	Lead: Prof. Emma Ruth. V. Bayogan, PhD (CARIM Director) Deans Department Chairs/Program Coordinators Ugnayan ng Pahinungod Land Reservation and Management Office
Student and Health Concerns	Lead: Prof. Maria Teresa R. Escano (OSA Director) Deans Department Chairs/Program Coordinators
Donations	Mr. Michael A. Gatela (Pahinungod Director)
Administration and finance	Prof. Aurelia Luzviminda V. Gomez, PhD (Vice Chancellor for Administration)
Communications	Prof. Karen Joyce G. Cayamanda, PhD (Humanities Chair)
	Mr. Michael Noel R. Bonghanoy (Info Comm Chair)
	Mr. Rene A. Estremera (Public Relations Officer)