DHVTSU Porac, Sto. Tomas brace for more students

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) satellite campuses in Porac and Sto. Tomas towns are both bracing for an increase in enrollment this school year.

Porac Mayor Condralito dela Cruz told Sun.Star Pampanga on Monday that they expect around 1,000 more students to enroll in the school for the next school year.

Because of this, Dela Cruz said they are now faced with the problem of providing more rooms and facilities for the new batch of enrollees and the subsequent increase of population each year.

"The reception on the part of students who want to enroll and avail of affordable education is just too big. We are faced with the problem of more rooms, facilities and equipment," Dela Cruz said.

The DHVTSU Porac campus serves this town's indigent students and is expected to even open its doors to nearby municipalities in the coming years when facilities and funding are further improved.

"We do not want to disappoint those who want to enroll. However, there are still things we have to meet to fully realize serving the next batch of enrollees," Dela Cruz added.

He said they expect around P1 million from DHVTSU for the construction of facilities, but added they need the help of the Provincial Government and the National Government in meeting the requirements of the campus.

He said they are also in talks with National Government officials for possible funding support.

Meanwhile, Board Member Nestor "Bay" Tolentino said Monday that the newly established DHVTSU satellite campus in barangay Moras dela Paz, Sto. Tomas town will prioritize students from Pampanga’s fourth district.

He noted that children of barangay officials, including chieftains, councilmen, tanods (village watchmen), community health workers and the like will be enjoying scholarship grants for as long as they pass the qualifying examinations to be administered by the state university.

The board member explained that under pertinent provisions of the Local Government Code, the said scholarship benefit is mandatory in state colleges and universities in the country subject to certain requirements.

The satellite campus in Porac is located at a donated lot in Barangay Pio. Classes are currently held in various facilities at the Porac Model Community there, awaiting availability of classroom facilities currently being constructed.

The Provincial Government, meantime, funded the improvement and rehabilitation of the former Department of Health facility in Sto. Tomas town and converted it into school buildings, to the amount of P17 million.

It was learned that another P5 million has been allocated for site development and additional P3 million for upgrading of roads in the area.

Both satellite campuses offer technical and vocational courses and other four-year programs such as business administration, bachelor of education and Information Technology courses, among others.

Meanwhile, Governor Pineda urged the local officials to inform their constituents that the DHVTSU satellite campuses are now accepting enrollees.