RESPONDING to the frontliners' call for personal protective equipment (PPE), a group of young Cebuanos created Cebu Backliners to support those who are in the front lines in the fight against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
A core group composed of Michael Abello, Jolu Escaño and Claire Codilla of ARCHcon Cebu (a yearly convention with a cause for the hobbyist community), Barry Blanco of Zaku Cebu (Gunpla Enthusiasts focused on Sieg Zeon culture) and their partner abroad, Dhani Leadley, formed Cebu Backliners.
"The term 'Backliners' came from the need to support our frontliners. It was our way of saying 'we have your back.' Anyone can be a Backliner -- people who donate and support the campaign or create any effort to help our frontliners in their own way are whom we consider as backliners," Codilla told SunStar Cebu.
The group said they wanted to help frontliners as they are the ones risking their lives every day amid this Covid-19 pandemic to serve and save others.
"We couldn't just sit down comfortably in our houses under quarantine when we knew there were and still are many dying every day," she said.
In the Philippines, more than 6,000 people were infected by the virus. Of the number, 400 patients have died, making the country one with the highest mortality rate for Covid-19 in the Asean region.
The group's idea for the fundraising program is: with the total population of 922,611 in Cebu, if 2,642 Cebuanos can chip in P246 each, the group can provide frontliners with 10,000 surgical masks, 5,000 face shields, 1,500 body suits and 100 authentic test kits.
"We believe that dire situations may be avoided if frontliners are just given the proper support and protective gear they desperately need for them not to be infected so they may do their jobs well and help the city recover," Codilla said.
Through the efforts of the backliners' support and donations, the group had given PPEs to 14 beneficiary groups that include the Perpetual Succour Hospital, Cebu Crisis Assistance Team, Vicente Sotto Medical Memorial Hospital, St. Anthony Mother and Child, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital, UC MED, Mactan Doctors Hospital, Cebu North General Hospital University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society Group, Department of Health 7 Lab Unit, NSMI Hemodialysis Centre, Carbon Market Unit 1 and Adventist Hospital Cebu.
The group has 14 more pending beneficiaries to support.
"In Cebu Backliners, we encourage for anyone to make a difference. Whether as individuals, teams or groups -- anyone at all can support the cause by donating or even just spreading awareness. This support is very much important for the fundraiser to be able to reach our goals and provide PPE to all the frontliners who need them the most," she said.
"We believe that to beat this Covid-19 pandemic, we must all work together for the recovery of our city, our nation and our world," Codilla added. (JOB)