To intensify the relief operations for areas affected by the twin- typhoon Ondoy and Santi, Ronald Dugang, director of the Center for Community Development (CCD), tapped the assistance of Caritas Manila and Super 8 Philippines Bike Club to reach out to flooded areas of Pasig, Cainta and San Mateo Rizal, which were hard to get to by regular transportation.

Letran initially utilized the distribution resources of Caritas Manila, the lead agency for social services and development for the Archdiocese of Manila, after surveying the hard hit areas was impossible to be reached even by big buses and posed grave dangers to volunteer students and employees.

Next, CCD drew on the strong membership of the Super 8 Philippines Bike club headed by Joel Santos, vice president, to hand out relief goods to pupils of Magpayong Elementary School in Pasig. This school served as an evacuation center for selected families.

Apart from the families who were placed in evacuation sites, CCD has also given boxes of assorted goods to Tahanang Walang Hagdanan after the floods have isolated it. 

Dugang added affected Letran employees especially janitors and guards who were given priority in the assistance.

He added, “We want to personally thank the student council headed by Mark Norella and officers of the Recognized Student Organizations (RSOs) for their tireless efforts and for staying with the CCD all through out the relief operations. Some volunteer students even went to DSWD in Pasay to help in the repacking of goods.” 

The unrelenting relief operations of CCD started as early as the 27th of September after Dugang, using media partner Radio Veritas, called on the support of alumni, students and employees to extend assistance to both employees and students massively affected by Ondoy in Marikina, San Mateo, Cainta and Pasig.

Immediately after the call was sent out, priests and lay administrators launched SMS brigade to rally on the Letranites who were not affected to give to victims of the calamity.

Among the goods repacked and distributed were used clothing, sacks of rice, sardines, toiletries, and noodles.