Mapúa Institute of Technology’s Office for Social Orientation and Community Involvement Programs head Engr. Joyrence Mervin Agas (rightmost) and his team hand over the repacked goods to Mt. Apo volunteers.

Mapúa provides assistance to Mt. Apo volunteers?

Mapúa Institute of Technology’s Office for Social Orientation and Community Involvement Programs (SOCIP) initiated the provision of food and safety supplies to volunteer fire fighters in fire-stricken Mount Apo in Mindanao.

SOCIP head Engr. Joyrence Mervin Agas said that Mapúa partnered with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources — Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR-PENRO) in Davao del Sur to facilitate the three-day activity. His team delivered sacks of rice as well as bags that contained ready-to-eat food packs, snacks, energy drinks, vitamins, and facemasks.

Davao del Sur Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRM), Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), and the 10^th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army assisted the Mapúa contingents in transporting the donations from the command center to the campsite.

Forest fires in Mount Apo, the country’s tallest peak, broke out in late March, and it took two weeks before it was declared under control by the Bureau of Fire Protection.

Authorities have witnessed an influx of volunteers who all helped put out the fire. However, trekking activities are indefinitely banned in the area.

The activity is part of the Institute’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs handled by SOCIP.

According to Engr. Agas, Mapúa has been doing CSR in various forms since 1998, particularly utilizing technical expertise to address community needs.

Aside from donation activities, Mapúa also pursues other CSR projects that provide free technical trainings and know-how to select communities. Currently, it has adopted areas in Pandacan and Intramuros in Manila, Tawangan in Benguet, and Macabebe in Pampanga.?