SURIGAO DEL NORTE HEALS 911 MAY TUBAG SA INCIDENT SA BALIK CARAGA FOR STRANDED MSU STUDENTS PROGRAM BY LTFRB.
- Our highest gratitude and appreciation to everyone who made the “Balik Caraga for Stranded MSU Students Program” possible, most especially to the LTFRB Caraga headed by RD Tina Cassion, Bachelor Express Management, and MSU Marawi and IIT administration and staff. We are very grateful for all your support, time, and effort in assisting and ensuring the safe travel of our returning Surigaonon MSU students;
- Regretfully, however, we are now bound to respond to criticisms coming our way because of the latest issue and the facebook complaint thrown at us by no less than the Honorable LTFRB RD Cassion herself. The following facts and circumstances are the version of truth of the Province of Surigao del Norte, based on the facts gathered by the employees in-charge:
2.1 On 05 May 2020, RD Cassion sent a letter to Atty. Francisco Matugas, Provincial Governor of the Province of Surigao del Norte, to ask for a CLEARANCE to transport Caraganon-MSU students who are residents of Surigao del Norte (SDN) from MSU – Marawi and Iligan to SDN. Copy of said letter is hereto attached as Annex “1.”
2.2 The aforementioned request was approved by Gov. Lalo without any condition except compliance with quarantine protocols of the Department of Health and the Province;
2.3 On 16 May 2020, the buses (with the MSU Students on board) travelled from MSU Marawi in Marawi City and MSU IIT in Iligan City to Surigao del Norte and were expected to arrive in SDN at 4:00 PM. Because of some unexpected circumstances, they were still at Misamis Oriental at around 3:41 PM. Thinking that the expected time of arrival will be moved from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the focal person for Provincial Checkpoints immediately ordered food for dinner for all students, drivers, and LTFRB staff. Screenshot of the exchanges of text messages between RD Cassion and the focal person are hereto collectively attached as Annex “2;”
2.4 They arrived in Butuan City at 6:00 PM, more or less, and they left for Surigao del Norte at 8:00 PM, more or less. As to what they did in Butuan for more or less two (2) hours is just a matter that only the camp of Honorable RD Cassion knows. At any rate, at 8:09 PM, LTFRB staff Jelai sent a text message to our Provincial Checkpoints Focal Person, Mr. Jonathan Litang, telling the latter that they have not had dinner yet. Screenshots of the text messages of Ms. Jelai and the focal person are hereto collectively attached as Annex “3;”
2.5 When they arrived at Alegria Checkpoint, Alegria, Surigao del Norte at 9:39 PM, more or less, they were treated so well while quickly administering quarantine protocols. They all just seated in the bus comfortably while eating their snacks and while filling out the Health Declaration Form and Undertaking as well as doing some other health protocols. Pictures of LTFRB staff receiving the snacks prepared by the MSU Alumni Assoc., the screenshot of the testimony of Josefine Banate Wines, and the comment of Kendrick Kerk Urag Deguito, one of the Surigaonon MSUans are hereto, collectively attached as Annex “4;”
2.6 Thereafter, they went straight to Surigao del Norte Provincial Hospital (SDNPH) for Rapid Antibody Testing of said students who arrived at past 10:00 PM. Also, the students were given food packs while waiting for their turn to be tested;
2.7 Despite of the late dinner request, the Province of Surigao del Norte has prepared food packs (110 in all) for the students, drivers, and LTFRB staff and were readily available as early as 6:00 PM at SDNPH;
2.8 Moreover, as claimed by Mr. Rhudney Libay, Ambulance Driver of SDNPH, a group of four (4) young people went to the SDNPH lobby looking for food packs for ten (10) Bachelor drivers and conductors, thus –
“Almost 11pm my mga batan.on ni duol sa lobby nag ask kinsa incharge sa food, ako ang ni tubag ky naa man ko sa doul sa food.
Ask nko unsa diay tuyo, ni tubag sila na mag kuha unta kmi ng food pra sa mga driver ug conducot ng bachelor10pcs , so ako tag hatagan ug mang inasal nga pack lunch ug 10 bottle na meniral water….
Rhudney A. Libay
Ambulance Driver, SDNPH”
STATED DIFFERENTLY, BASING ON THE STATEMENT OF THE AFOREMENTIONED AMBULANCE DRIVER OF SDNPH, FOOD PACKS WERE ACTUALLY GIVEN OR SERVED TO THE DRIVERS, CONDUCTORS AND LTFRB PERSONNEL AT SDNPH CONTRARY TO THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE STAFF OF HONORABLE RD CASSION.
- The Province cannot turn a blind eye to this incident since the public rants of Honorable RD Cassion all happened at SDNPH, a hospital owned by the Province. Furthermore, the cursed message of RD Cassion is for the LGUs of Surigao del Norte, who for RD Cassion, did not even shell out a single centavo to spend for the “LTFRB Balik Caraga for Stranded MSU Students Program.”
3.1 With all due respect, this allegation is contrary to the letter of RD Cassion to Gov. Lalo dated 05 May 2020 where there was no mention whatsoever that the Honorable Regional Office of LTFRB is asking for any financial assistance from the Province. In fact, they only asked assistance from the Province in securing the clearance for the students and that students who are under the age of 21 be issued certificate to travel.
3.2 Further, let it be recalled that the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte already gave financial assistance to these students in the amount of Two Thousand Pesos (P2,000.00) each.
3.3 It could have been very simple if Honorable RD Cassion said on her 05 May 2020 letter that they need financial assistance, or say counterpart of our LGU, in the implementation of their “Balik Caraga Stranded MSU Students Program.” This is so because in several times already we even accommodated and spent thousands of money in favor of some residents of other Provinces while they are being stranded in our territory. This includes, among others, to wit:
a.) More or less 40 residents of Samar and Leyte, who were stranded at Lipata Ferry Terminal, Surigao City for several days, were provided with food everyday by the City Government of Surigao. In addition, the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte also spent more or less P38,000 worth of Rapid Antibody Test (RAT) Kits after they were required by their respective Provinces to undergo RAT before they were allowed to go home; and
b.) On 16 May 2020, we accepted MSU students of the Province of Dinagat Islands with all our hearts to stay overnight in our Provincial Community Training Center before they were transported to their home province. A gesture which would show how hospitable we are.
- Honorable RD Cassion and her staff should have dealt directly with the Provincial Government and not with any other who is not connected with PSDN. The City/Municipal LGUs were present at SDNPH during that time because they were there to fetch their residents only.
- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE PROFESSIONAL IF HONORABLE RD CASSION JUST BROUGHT THE MATTER TO GOV. LALO MATUGAS FIRST IN THE SPIRIT OF DUE PROCESS AND FAIRNESS FOR US TO BE GIVEN OUR CHANCE TO EXPLAIN WHAT TRULY HAPPENED. AS A MATTER OF FACT ON THE SAME NIGHT RD CASSION AND MR. JONATHAN LITANG AGREED TO BRING THE MATTER FIRST TO GOV. LALO FOR THE LATTER TO RECTIFY ANY MISTAKE, IF ANY. ALL THESE EXCHANGES OF MESSAGES BETWEEN RD CASSION AND MR. LITANG WERE MONITORED BY THE UNDERSIGNED, ATTY. ZANDER J. PLAZA, ACTING PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS PROVINCE, WHO IN TURN, IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO CAUSE THE INVESTIGATION OF WHAT TRULY HAPPENED.
- Perhaps, a better version of bayanihan could have been forged among the Caraganons if, and only if, Honorable RD Cassion did not bring her complain on Facebook Page, which is now apparently utilized as a COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION.
- With regard to the issue of discrimanation, we humbly submit that on this unfortunate event there was NONE. As a matter of fact, we bent our rules in our Provincial Checkpoint by not asking anymore anybody in the aforementioned buses to go down to undergo health protocols as opposed to other passing through vehicles and other returning Surigaonons.
- The undersigned was even told by some of our SDNPH personnel that for sure they will be recognized in handling these MSU students because they were so prepared in doing the Rapid Antibody Test as well as in taking initiative of buying food packs from Mang Inasal – an unprecedented gesture, which is still short enough of not bringing the image of this Province in a badlight.
- Truly, who is being discriminated in this case without giving due process, is our OIC-Chief of Hospital who is accused effectively not giving the food to bus drivers and LTFRB personnel. An act, which is degrading to our Medical Doctor who even went out of his way as a Doctor to cause the purchase of 110 food packs for the MSU students as well as bus drivers and helpers and LTFRB personnel.
- What we really don’t understand is why this kind of issue, which is not yet verified, is already posted in a social media platform, which truly caused damage not just to the Provincial Government of Surigao del Norte, but to all the people of Surigao del Norte.
- Nonetheless, we appeal to all Caraganons not to be quick to judge, and we should not hurt each other with our sharp and uncaring words. The matter should be resolved diplomatically, and we should avoid further conflict and division amongst us. In this trying time, we should heal as one with kindness. We should serve as one, we should share as one, and we should show compassion as one.?
- Thus, we hereby ask the HON. RD CASSION to discuss with Gov. Lalo as to what she wants us Surigaonons to do in supporting the programs of her Honorable Office. This is so because “public officials and employees shall perform and discharge their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism, intelligence and skill. They shall enter public service with utmost devotion and dedication to duty. They shall endeavor to discourage wrong perceptions of their roles as dispensers or peddlers of undue patronage (Sec. 4(b) of R.A. No. 6713).”