AFTER almost three weeks, 31 students of the Camiguin Polytechnic State College, who were stranded in the province due to the preemptive community quarantine declaration, left the island by boat towards Balingoan port in Misamis Oriental, on Tuesday.
Six others are still in the island, staying temporarily with foster families, waiting for the lifting of sea travel restrictions to either Cebu or Bohol.
CPSC president Macario Oclarit, in a statement Monday, said the 31 non-resident students received health certificates from the provincial office that they pose no risk in spreading the Covid-19 virus while in transit.
Oclarit said the arrangement for their travel back home was made by the college with the provincial government.
Prof. Alexander Morados on Thursday said Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo was gracious enough to grant financial assistance of at least P1 thousand each.
Morados said he had to explain to the governor that most of the 45 students in the list are not from Camiguin, hence they need help.
Romualdo placed the entire province under PCQ effective midnight of March 25 which restricted travels to and from Camiguin only for traders bringing in essential commodities, health, and government personnel.
The declaration also called for the cancellation of classes and CPSC main campus in Mambajao and satellite campus in Catarman had to stop, thus the students could no longer pack and catch the last passenger boat out.
Thirty-seven of those in the list of students, both from main and satellite campuses, are from as far as Alicia, Bohol; Sibagat and Veruela, Agusan del Sur; Clarin, Misamis Occidental; Maramag, Bukidnon and various Misamis Oriental towns. Others are from Butuan, Cabadbaran, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog, Jagna and Valencia cities.
Most, if not all, stayed in boarding houses and just a few with their relatives, Morados said.
“They were reported to the police alleging they were engaged in a scam,” said the professor who is also college’s research director, since officers of the central student government took the initiative of soliciting funds for the stranded students.
But Gov. Romualdo, in a Facebook post, warned public against the solicitations. He said those behind it were exploiting the health crisis.
Asked for comment, CSG president Jorene Salvaleon said he is thankful to the governor and the provincial government for the assistance. (Uriel C. Quilinguing)
