TACLOBAN CITY – 4Ps Partylist Rep. and Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, along with local government officials, community leaders, and university stakeholders, led the groundbreaking ceremony for two new buildings at the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) Arteche Campus in Arteche, Eastern Samar.
The construction of a P22 million academic building and a P5 million multipurpose building, held on June 8, at the ESSU-Arteche Extension Campus aims to address the campus’s classroom shortages.
The academic building is a two-story structure designed to accommodate over 400 students. It includes eight classrooms, one faculty office, comfort rooms, and storage rooms, covering a total area of 860 square meters. The project’s expected completion time is 168 days.
The multipurpose building, also a two-story structure, covers 70.28 square meters and has a projected completion time of 122 days.
The ground floor will feature a student lounge, while the second floor will serve as a study and presentation area capable of accommodating more than 450 students.
Currently, due to the shortage of classrooms, students in each program attend classes only two days a week.
Libanan emphasized that the new infrastructures would create additional opportunities for students at ESSU-Arteche.
“The modern facilities and equipment are expected to improve the educational system of the said school,” he added.
During the public hearing of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, House Bill No. 9772, an Act converting the ESSU-Arteche Extension Campus to a regular campus, was approved on its third and final reading on February 28, 2024. Libanan co-authored the bill, and the hearing was presided over by committee chair, Sen. Chiz Escudero.
Libanan mentioned that the conversion would provide fiscal autonomy to the campus, leading to additional budget allocation and job opportunities for the people of Eastern Samar.
Currently, ESSU-Arteche Campus funding depends on the ESSU-Borongan Campus and the support of the local government unit of Arteche.
Engr. Arnaldo Villalon, dean of ESSU Arteche, stated that constructing the two new buildings will address the classroom shortage resulting from the increasing number of enrollees.
The school’s enrollment has risen to over 800 students for the current school year, up from the initial 107 enrollees in 2018.
Libanan advocated for funding allocation for both projects.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
