University, LGU inks deal for Candaba campus

THE Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) and local government unit of Candaba signed Thursday, August 29, a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and conditional deed of donation to formalize the upcoming opening of a satellite campus in the town.

DHVSU president Dr. Enrique Baking and Mayor Rene Maglanque led the signing of documents, which was witnessed by Fourth District Representative Juan Pablo Bondoc and Governor Dennis Pineda.

The new satellite campus will rise in a 2.3-hectare flood-free and accessible lot in Barangay Pasig, right beside the Candaba Community Hospital, which was donated by the local government to DHVSU.

According to Baking, the opening of the new campus is in line with the school's mission of making quality tertiary education accessible to indigent but deserving Kapampangan youth.

He said the Candaba campus is also expected to help decongest the current population of 20,339 students in the DHVSU main campus in Bacolor town, which is the nearest to their area.

"DHVSU has officially extended its services here in Candaba as part of our commitment to provide excellent quality of education complemented with the desire to widen the access to inclusive education," he said.

Baking added that the Candaba campus will officially open by June 2020 with degree courses including engineering, architecture, business administration, education and information technology to be offered to college students.

Maglanque, meanwhile, said the Provincial Government will allocate a budget for the construction of the school building.

He said Bondoc will lead the legislative process to make the Candaba campus a national government-funded and operated one.

He also stressed that the arrival of DHVSU in the town will finally address the lack of a tertiary school offering quality and free education to indigent students not only in Candaba but also to nearby towns of San Luis, Sta. Ana, Arayat and Bulacan.

"It has long been my dream for Candaba to have its own public college and through the help of Governor Pineda and Congressman Rimpy and assistance of Dr. Baking, we are finally able to realize it only two months after I assumed post," he said.

Apart from the free quality education, Maglanque also committed to provide financial assistance for the allowances of students, as well as purchase a bus that can serve students from around the town.

"Since tuition fee in state universities is already free, we wanted to extend our assistance to the allowances and even transportation of students so that they will have no more reasons of not finishing college," he said.