Donation from capitol Norsu finally owns its lot

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  â€” The Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) received today almost one billion pesos worth of donation from the provincial government of Negros Oriental.

During the turnover ceremonies, done after the baccalaureate mass of graduating students at the university gymnasium, NORSU president Dr. Don Vicente Real received from Governor Roel Degamo the deed of donation of the lot, where the main campus is located.

Degamo, in behalf of the provincial government, made the donation of the 20,344-square meter lot, which one geodetic engineer said was valued at P40,000 per square meter. The donation was done after a thorough study and consultation.

Records showed that portion of the 143,033-square meter total property of the Capitol area has been donated on August 27, 1960, by the Bureau of Public Schools to the former East Visayan School of Arts and Trade (EVSAT), now NORSU.

Signatories of that donation were then governor Serafin Teves and EVSAT head, Supt. Gregorio Espinosa. However, said document was nowhere to be found, until former provincial attorney Erwin Vergara made a thorough research and investigation as to the whereabouts of that paper.

Degamo said the donation was so important in the development of NORSU, because without it there will be no further improvement, such as construction of new buildings, that can be undertaken.

In his response, Real lauded the high-mindedness and high regard of Degamo for education, which is one of the governor’s priority programs.

With the donation, “we don’t only own the house but also the lot, and we’re no longer professional squatters starting today,” said Real.

He also said that, without the donation, NORSU could not move forward and could not build new facilities for accreditation purposes.

“It’s like winning a jackpot in lotto,” Real further said, while giving credit and paying tribute to the university’s former president, Dr. Henry Sojor, who was also instrumental in the realization of the deed of donation.

Sojor, for his part, said he felt vindicated with the donation because, at one time in his previous administration, he was accused of constructing buildings without the deed of donation.   (FREEMAN)