TSU taps Sarap Tumulong Fund to aid COVID-stricken employees  

Tarlac State University taps “Sarap Tumulong Fund” to aid employees who were affected by the coronavirus disease said university president Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari on Wednesday (April 7) during the webinar titled State of Public Health Emergency: COVID-19 Updates and Variants.  

The Sarap Tumulong initiative was organized by Prof. Redemptor G. Toledano, former University Extension Services Office Director.

During the webinar, Pres. Mallari said if a job order employee gets infected, the university will provide cash assistance for RT-PCR test through Sarap Tumulong fund, while assistance for employees occupying plantilla positions will come from the university income. 

Aside from RT-PCR cash assistance, food packs and meals for employees who are quarantined or tagged as Persons Under Monitoring (PUM) will be given through Sarap Tumulong fund. 
 
As of April 16, the university has recorded four positive cases and 12 PUMs which resulted to 11 affected offices.  

In March 2020, the Sarap Tumulong fund was utilized by the university for the distribution of food packs and hygiene kits to frontliners and some COVID patients in Tarlac City. 

Alternative Work Arrangement and Health Protocols 

Due to the rising number of cases, the university reimplemented the two-day skeleton workforce and a two-day work-from-home schedule in all offices which was recommended by the TSU Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Committee.  

Dr. Rommel Hernandez, University Medical Officer, said that employees should avoid the three Cs: crowded places, close-contact settings, and confined and enclosed spaces.  

Furthermore, he emphasized that mandatory reporting of health conditions must be applied. No one should conceal if they or their family are experiencing COVID-like symptoms. 

He also added that corresponding sanctions will be given to employees who will violate health protocols such as not wearing of face masks and face shields, no physical distancing, and violation of skeleton schedule. Such sanctions were formulated based on existing labor laws and the 2017 Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS) 

Pres. Mallari also stressed that non-compliance to shuttle services assignment and commuting when reporting to work or going back home is highly prohibited.  

All employees were ferried by TSU vehicles since offices resumed operations in April 2020 to avoid the possible transmission of the disease through public transport. 

Personal Protective Equipment 

The Pollution Control and Safety Unit has provided each employee a box of masks, face shield, alcohol, hand sanitizer, hand soap, and disinfectant spray in 2020.  They are also targeting to give alcohol and face masks every quarter. 

According to Mr. Federico Estrada, Jr., Pollution Control Officer, employees can refill their alcohol bottles once emptied.  

University nurses also conduct a daily monitoring to check if employees are complying with health protocols. [Maria Adelaida D. Calayag]