Tarlac State University students will soon benefit from a new building at the Lucinda Campus that will house classrooms for the College of Science and additional laboratories for BS Nursing students.
Senator Manuel "Lito" Lapid, Rep. Christian Tell A. Yap of the Tarlac 2nd congressional district, and TSU President Dr. Arnold E. Velasco led the ceremonial groundbreaking of the College of Science-Simulation Laboratory Building at the Lucinda Campus on Monday (April 22).
Funded by Sen. Lapid and Sen. Sherwin "Win" T. Gatchalian through the efforts of Rep. Yap, the six-story building will be built at the back of the existing COS building.
“Isa pong karangalan na ako ay makatulong sa itatayong building na ito. Alam niyo po, napakahalaga po ng edukasyon sa akin dahil hindi po ako nakapagtapos. Kaya ang bilin ko lagi sa mga estudyante, magpasalamat kayo sa mga magulang niyo dahil pinag-aral kayo,” Sen. Lapid said in his message.
Furthermore, Hon. Yap highlighted the importance of this infrastructure in accommodating more students and producing more nurses and healthcare workers.
“Malaking economic opportunity sa ating mga kababayan na makapag-aral ng nursing. Hopefully, with the establishment of this building, we can address the demand for the shortage of nurses para gumanda ang healthcare programs natin dito sa probinsya, dahil ang programa at prayoridad po namin ay ang kalusugan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.
Pres. Velasco noted the commendable performance of TSU in the Nurse Licensure Examination for the previous years, connecting the future building and its facilities to ensuring quality education.
"The performance [of] the COS Department of Nursing (in the) board exam has been one of our achievements in the university. Through this donation, we can continue this achievement and improve our instruction and coaching to our students," Pres. Velasco said.
"This building will serve as a hub for transformative learning, empower the next frontliners, and encourage a culture of discovery among our faculty members and students," he added.
According to Engr. Ronald Cayabyab of DPWH Tarlac 1st District Engineering Office, the phase I and phase II of the project will commence in May 2024, as it has already undergone bidding with an allotted 30 million pesos from Sen. Lapid and 25 million pesos from Sen. Gatchalian.
Moreover, Sen. Lapid pledged an additional 150 million pesos during the ceremony intended for the project's phase III.
Sen. Lapid also turned over three new mini dump trucks to three barangays in Tarlac, namely Brgy. Baculong in Victoria, Brgy. Matatalaib in Tarlac City, and a barangay in Capas town.
Other local officials in attendance are Tarlac 2nd district board member Harmes S. Sembrano, representing Tarlac Province governor Susan A. Yap, Tarlac City vice mayor Genaro "Aro" Mendoza, and some city councilors, along with DPWH Tarlac 1st District engineers led by Engr. Renato Martinez, representative of Engr. De Neil F. Farala.
Meanwhile, TSU Board of Regents members Hon. Winifredo Luis, Hon. Cherie Lyn F. Onia, Hon. Christine Lamorena, Hon. Fidel Feliciano, key officials, and the Administrative Council members were also present during the activity. (jlmm-OPA)
Photo by Eduardo F. Laxamana Jr.
