UV Dalaguete campus launched

Commission on High Education-7 regional director Enrique Grecia, who was guest of honor during the blessing and formal launching of the University of the Visayas-Dalaguete last Friday, lauded the municipal government of Dalaguete for bringing university education to students there.

Grecia said the project came true with the cooperation of the LGU and the private sector.  Since the LGU could not run a college it constructed a building on its own lot and brought in UV to provide education to the town’s students.

Dalaguete Mayor Andrade Alcantara said education has always been one of the town’s top priorities, in fact, 28 percent of the town’s annual budget for this year has been allocated to education.

He added the idea of affordable and accessible education was already on his mind as far back as when he and Vice Mayor Ronald Cesante were still town councilors some fifteen years ago.

Apart from bringing university education to the Dalaguete students, those from nearby towns will also be benefited and this means additional revenues for the town as this will them bring forth businesses like lodging houses and canteens, the mayor said.

The university occupies a two-story building that sits in a 7,000-square meter property fronting the sea.  There are now 294 students taking five courses, the university is set to add another five next year.

Alcantara said the number of the pioneering students is actually more than they anticipated based on their feasibility study.  The project has already cost P30 million, and for the next five years UV shall use the said building free as stated in the memorandum of agreement signed by the two parties.

Meanwhile, UV’s Vice President for Administration and Finance Gerald Anthony Gullas said having satellite schools in places like Dalaguete is part of the UV thrust to help the youth in rural areas have quality university education.

UV already has seven campuses, three in the north and four in the south.

This is the first time that UV has tied up with an LGU, and he said the Gullases are planning to replicate this in other towns as well.  —  Liv G. Campo/BRP