NORSU elects 3rd president

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The Negros Oriental State University’s Board of Regents on Friday elected Dr. Joel Patnubay Limson as the 3rd president of the state university.

Limson garnered majority of the votes, during the elections held at the Commission on Higher Education central office in Metro Manila, besting two other finalists: Dr. Noel Marjun Yasi, presently NORSU’s vice president for administration; and Dr. Virginia Lacuesta, vice president for research and external linkages.

The 52-year-old Limson took his oath of office immediately after his election by the Board of Regents, presided by Dr. Patricia Licuanan, CHED chairperson.

The BOR members who took part in the elections were: Representative Pryde Henry Teves (3rd district, Negros Oriental) who represented Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo; Dr. Vivian Estaquio representing Senator Pia Cayetano; NEDA Regional Director Efren Carreon; DOST Director Rowen Gelonga; Dumaguete Councilor Nilo Sayson for NORSU alumni; Dr. Elsa Bulado for NORSU faculty; Vince Villanueva for NORSU student government; Ricarte Santos and Marcelino Maxino for the private sector;

Santos, in a telephone interview, said there was delay in the election of a new NORSU president, after five nominees were shortlisted to three last September 14, because the BOR failed to get a 100-percent attendance at the time, until last Friday this year.

Licuanan made sure all BOR members were present during the meeting for the election and acquainting with the new president of NORSU. The BOR first heard the report of the search committee, headed by former UP president, Dr. Emerlinda Roman, showing the results of the public forum and panel interview, which cut the five nominees into the final three.

The three final candidates later underwent interview and evaluation before the BOR, and Santos said Limson came out the front runner of them all, after the latter presented his vision, mission, objectives and development goals for NORSU.

Teves said Limson, who got an overwhelming vote from the BOR, had impressive credentials who could “diffuse the heavy factionalism within NORSU.”

Limson, who reported to NORSU yesterday, was born in Bayawan City and graduated from the Negros Oriental Agricultural School. He obtained his masters and doctorate degrees from the Isabela State University and became president of the Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College. (FREEMAN)