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NEWS
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Ask Anything – Engr. Ma. Luisa Valdez
Maintaining the facilities of three very different campuses is not an easy feat. And it is a job taken on by Assistant Vice Chancellor for General Administrative Services Engr. Ma. Luisa Valdez, and her team of administrators, engineers and personnel.
- What features does GASD have to cater to DLS-CSB’s Deaf community? Would there be improvements in your department for their benefit?
Presently, GASD’s Center for Safety and Security maintains an existing Deaf Emergency Assistance Team, which provides guidance and assistance to the Deaf community particularly in emergency cases, or even during drills. Said team is composed of key officers and personnel who have undergone the FSL classes, and are therefore conversant in sign language.
Our existing fire alarm systems in the three campuses, meanwhile, are also equipped with blinkers and strobe lights, which could easily and effectively alert our Deaf community members during emergency situations.
In addition to this, GASD is exploring the possibility of acquiring (depending on the availability of funds) a Deaf Emergency Alert System (EAS) similar to those currently being used in some Deaf schools in progressive countries such as the United States of America. Said multi-featured PA system provides text messaging, sign language, and coding alerts and advisories specifically intended for the Deaf and hard of hearing. If this materializes in the immediate future, Deaf EAS screens will be placed in predetermined sections like the cafeteria, transaction counters (i.e., Admissions Center, Registrar’s Office, Accounting Office) and SDEAS area, among others.
For the meantime, our Engineering Center, in partnership with the Safety Office, is considering the installation of color-coded signal lights in strategic areas of the school. A clear light could, for example, would signify Angelus; green to call the attention of a student in a queue (i.e., Accounting Office, Registrar’s Office) and; red to signal an emergency situation which might require building evacuation. In such a case, we will be coming up with a corresponding set of guidelines regarding this for the community’s information.
- How do we maintain the cleanliness, including the quality and functionality of the facilities (ranging from the rooms to the minute details such as smoke detectors) in all the campuses while in keeping with the quality standard of any establishment?
The Engineering Center has a regular preventive maintenance schedule for our equipment and facilities. With regard to our equipment, like our fire alarm system, in particular, preventive maintenance program is through a specialist contractor. An annual test is conducted to ensure efficiency of the system. Included in the system is a central monitoring device that is placed in the office of the Center Safety and Security to ensure round-the-clock monitoring. We also have complied with the requirements of the City Engineer’s Office and other government agencies for the annual inspection and renewal of permits and licenses, which include the fire safety inspection that ensures compliance with the Fire Code of the Philippines and the National Building Code standards.
In addition, the Center for Housekeeping and Environmental Concerns is focused on delivering quality cleaning and sanitation services in all campuses. It has a system based on the international standards followed by 5-star hotels and healthcare institutions. Housekeepers are trained to have an eye for detail, a positive attitude and a passion for excellence.
- Does the department have plans of replacing very old materials and facilities in the college? What would be your basis and criteria in doing so?
Standardization of equipment and facilities is already being done (chairs, tables, etc.) and is being carried out during renovation works for each office. With regard to replacement of old materials and equipment, full depreciation of such does not automatically mean that it is justified for replacement, especially if they are still fully functional. With regard to our equipment, we are gradually introducing a predictive maintenance program that would ensure that our critical equipment would be repaired or replaced before they become inefficient in operation and more of a liability than an asset.
- Are there plans to add elevators on the Taft campus, or at least upgrade the lone elevator there?
An additional elevator is still for our further study though there are structural concerns that must be factored in the decision for such an acquisition. Everyone can be assured, however, that our existing elevator is regularly maintained through a specialist contractor supervised by the Engineering Center to ensure its safe operation. With our recent acquisition of the Mayflower Property, another reason has been brought forth for an additional elevator, which we will explore in the coming school year.
- What are the updates that the community, especially those based in the SDA Campus, should know about the current air balancing that is being carried on there?
We are localizing the dissemination on the updates in our air balancing project to those offices that are directly affected. In truth, this air balancing project is a very complex problem. It would really take a concerted effort on the part of the contractor involved in the project and the Engineering Center to come up with a satisfactory result. We ask for more patience from the community, but, please understand that the problem we are trying to work around is a combined design/implementation issue involving an infrastructure that is already existing and being used. You can rest assured, however, that we are leaving no stones unturned in solving this problem. It may take some time, and more patience from the community, but we will do our best to solve it.
- With the amount of promotion clutter that we have in the college (posters, etc.), are there any plans of standardizing poster and other promotional material placements in the three campuses?
We are currently planning to clear all bulletin boards and place a common unit in a strategic location that would be available for and accessible to all.
- Most of the signages in the College are outdated and are not in keeping with the reorganization (office names have changed) or College branding. When will these be replaced?
Replacement of office/room signage is being done but since the College has just undergone re-organization and offices are being arranged for new room assignments/ configurations, in some cases, are yet to be finalized, we are awaiting such finalization first before new signage are ordered.
The Ask Anything Campaign is a section of the perspective that allows members of the community, particularly students, to have their questions answered by a featured administrator. Administrators may choose to answer at least five questions and these will be printed in the perspective. Any additional questions and answers will be published in the DLS-CSB Intranet.
The March issue’s featured Administrator will be Ms. Leticia Delarmente, Dean of the School for Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management. Questions for Dean Delarmente may be sent to mco@dls-csb.edu.ph, with [Ask Dean Delarmente] in the subject line, on or before March 17, 2010 (Wednesday).
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