Soon, there will be a UP campus in the City of Taguig! University of the Philippines The Fort? Watch out for it!
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Plans for a UP presence in Taguig are underway with the donation of a 4,300-square meter lot in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) by the Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA).
UP President Alfredo E. Pascual signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with deed of conveyance with the BCDA through its president and chief executive officer, Arnel Paciano Casanova, on July 19 at the UP Board Room in Quezon Hall.
BCDA is a government agency created by virtue of Republic Act 7227, also known as the Bases Conversion and Development Act of 1992, signed into law by former President Corazon C. Aquino on March 13, 1992. It was responsible for leading and providing directions in the conversion of former US military bases as well as military camps in Metro Manila into growth centers. It also played a vital role in the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines by contributing funds to the program.
According to the MOA, BCDA donated to UP a 4,300 –square meter lot at the BGC for the UP professional schools which will initially include the College of Law (CL), College of Business Administration (CBA), College of Engineering (CoE), School of Statistics (SS) and the UP Open University (UPOU). The facility is also expected to accommodate continuing education programs of other UP units.
In his message during the ceremony, Pascual said “UP at The Fort will not only strengthen UP’s role as a key player in development. It will also further widen its reach in serving our people, particularly students and professionals from southern Metro Manila.”
In addition, he said “In the future, we can expect more continuing education programs of other UP units making their mark on this side of the metropolis. This is a continuing challenge for UP and for those who regard education as a tool for empowerment in the service of the nation.”
Having a UP campus in BGC was initially proposed by National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) president, Dr. Emil Javier, during his term as UP president.
The proposal now turned into reality after Senator Franklin Drilon facilitated the donation by BCDA of the project site which was originally planned to be leased to UP.
Among those present during the MOA signing were former Department of Agrarian Reform secretary Rene Villa; former UP president Dr. Emerlinda R. Roman; Dr. Elvira A. Zamora, UP’s VP for Development; Drilon, BCDA Chairman Felicito C. Payumo, two BCDA members, Atty. Teresita A. Desierto, commissioner on Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board; Aileen An.R. Zosa, BCDA executive vice president; Prof. Danilo A. Arao, Assistant VP for Public Affairs; Prof. Christopher S. Espina, Office of Design and Planning Initiatives director; Dr. Maragtas Sofronio V. Amante, VP for Administration; Dr. Grace J. Alfonso, UP Open University chancellor; Dr. Aura C. Matias, CoE dean; Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion, VP for Legal Affairs and CL dean; Dr. Ben Paul B. Gutierrez, CBA dean; and Prof. Armin B. Sarthou, former VP for Development.
Dr. Jose Wendell P. Capili, AVP for Public Affairs and Office of Alumni Relations director, hosted the MOA signing ceremony. —H.C.P. with reports from the UP System Information Office
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