CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Mindanao State University (MSU) Main Campus in Marawi City is set to resume its classes next week after the Dec. 3 blast that killed four and injured scores of mass goers.
In a memo released on Thursday, MSU president Basari Mapupuno said mental health support would be provided during the reopening of classes on Dec. 11.
"Recognizing the emotional impact of the recent incident, the university will continually provide readily available mental health and psychosocial support services to all students and faculty," Mapupuno said.
The university was supposed to conduct final examinations this month to end the semester before the explosion incident.
Mapupuno said the MSU administration would provide special accommodation to the blast survivors, who will be exempted from complying with academic requirements during the period of their recovery.
The MSU administration, together with the Lanao del Sur provincial government, will also provide free transportation from Dec. 9 and 10 for students in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur; Malabang town, Lanao del Sur; and in this city.
Records from the MSU Incident Command Center showed that of the 14,855 students this semester, 1,984, or 13.11 percent, are reported to have returned to their homes outside Marawi City.
As a guarantee to the returning students, the MSU administration will implement heightened security measures, which include the deployment of K-9 units and barangay peacekeeping action teams.
The police and military will also conduct checkpoints and security.
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office also distributed its second wave of relief operations for some 660 MSU students living in cottages and dormitories on Wednesday.
Other cash assistance, medical, and burial expenses were also pledged by other stakeholders and local government units. (PNA)
