Super Typhoon “Yolanda” destroys VSU infrastructures and properties

Super Typhoon “Yolanda” hit the VSU Main Campus and its satellite campuses on November 8, 2013 from 5:30 until 9:30 in the morning that destroyed academic buildings, research facilities, staff cottages, dormitories, experimental sites, forest reserves, and other infrastructures. Even the century old trees in the VSU Main Campus were not spared from the devastating wind of Yolanda.

The estimated cost of the damages caused by the super typhoon to the VSU System properties, as revealed by VSU President, Dr. Jose L. Bacusmo, amounted to one hundred fifty million pesos (PhP150,000,000) distributed as follows: VSU-Tolosa – PhP64 million, VSU Main Campus – PhP38 million, VSU-Isabel – PhP33 million, VSU-Alangalang – PhP10 million, and VSU-Villaba – PhP5 million.

The VSU constituents, including the students, helped each other in restoring the materials blown and destroyed by the typhoon which can still be recovered, recycled and reused. They also joined hands in mass clearing of the streets and buildings, fixing of electrical connections, restoring the water supply, and cleaning the surroundings.

In a meeting with the key officials of the University and the department heads, the VSU President officially announced that classes for the second semester will start on November 25 for those in the Main Campus and in VSU-Villaba, while the campuses of VSU-Alangalang, VSU-Isabel, and VSU-Tolosa shall have their classes on January 6, 2014.

The University extended its services to some students who preferred to stay in the campus after the typhoon by allowing them to recharge the batteries of their cellphones at the VSU Infirmary, Power Plant, and even in the Holy Spirit Church which have generators so they can contact and connect to their loved ones.   The students also availed of the feeding program initiated by the University at the VSU Pavilion after the typhoon.

Moreover, the first 2,000 students who came back to VSU for the second semester were given some relief goods donated by the VSU alumni here and abroad. Initiated by Ms. Rosalyn Pascual-Alburo, the VSU Alumni Association, Inc., through its president, Dr. Edgardo E. Tulin, distributed the relief goods directly to the students.

Some students also received relief goods from the DepEd Division Office of the City of Carcar in the province of Cebu.

Likewise, the University accommodated at the VSU Convention Center two international NGOs—Plan International and the Christian Aid of the United Kingdom—that give in kind donations to the victims of Yolanda especially in Northern Leyte. The VSU Convention Center is provided by the University as warehouse and office of these relief groups.

           Through the Institute for Strategic Research and Development Studies, VSU also provided assistance by making access cards given to the 360 identified heavily affected families from barangays Marcos, Gabas, Patag, Guadalupe, and Pangasugan in Baybay City, Leyte who received relief goods distributed by some volunteers from the Muslims of Trinidad and Tobago.  

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