THE University of Southeastern Philippines (Usep) will soon open a law school in August 2019, promising affordable tuition fees but with quality education for deserving students who wish to pursue legal education.
Lawyer Rogelio Largo, Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Davao chapter president, said on Monday that the offering of the new program has already gotten the nod of the school’s Board of Regents while the approval of Legal Education Board (LEB) is underway and still being processed.
“It is scheduled to open in 2019,” Largo confirmed.
He added that LEB representatives are scheduled to visit the university in October to inspect its facilities and check necessary documents before they will be provided with the permit to operate.
“There is already a facility being constructed, the building, [and] the library, the one being constructed near the gymnasium. Part of that will be dedicated to the law school,” Largo added.
Largo, who is also a member of the Usep’s Board of Regents, said there has been many individuals who have signified their interest to enroll knowing that the fees are lesser and there is possibility that it would be offered free should it be covered by the newly-implemented free education.
“The government now is providing accessible education, in fact libre na ‘yong college. While law school is not necessarily considered as college, but we can assure the public that in terms of the fees, it will be much lower than the counterpart in the private sector,” Largo said.
He said, “If possible, it can be offered for free but I am not in [authority] to tell that.”
Asked how they envisioned their law graduates, he said that they wish to address the needs of marginalized sectors in terms of their legal needs.
“We would like to establish a niche that will try to provide opportunities to those working students who are less in terms of financial capacity. Would like to produce lawyers who are prepared to take on public interest cases, those that deal with marginalized sectors of the society,” Largo said.
Other schools offering law programs in Davao City are Ateneo de Davao University, the University of Mindanao, Jose Maria College, and Rizal Memorial Colleges.