Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda wants to provide quality education to Candabeños, by bringing a Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) campus in Candaba town.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Gov. Pineda, DHVSU President Enrique Baking, and Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque at the Trade Center of the town in relation to this plan.
The said campus will be built in a 2.3-hectare lot in Sitio Pansol, Barangay Pasig near the boundary of Sta. Ana, Arayat and San Luis towns.
“This project is the manifestation of the commitment of the administration to provide inclusive, affordable, and quality education to the less privileged youth in the province,” Pineda said.
According to him, this is the result of the strong political will of the leaders to give what is best for their constituents.
“Ang kapitolyo na po, sa tulong ni Mayor Maglanque at President Baking, ang nagdala ng DHVSU dito sa bayan ng Candaba,” he added.
The Governor vowed to provide educational assistance to the first batch of students of DHVSU-Candaba. He also said that the Provincial Government of Pampanga will allot P25 million for the construction of the said campus.
Mayor Maglanque mentioned that he appealed to the Sangguniang Bayan Council led by Vice Mayor Michael Sagum to realign and allocate an additional P25 million for the project.
“Pangarap kasi natin na sa bawat pamilya dito sa bayan ng Candaba, may isa dapat na makatapos sa Kolehiyo. Kaya ginawa po natin ang lahat nang ating makakaya upang mapabilis ang proseso ng paggawa nito,” Maglanque stressed.
For his part, 4th District Congressman Juan Pablo ‘Rimpy’ Bondoc said he will pass a House Bill to make the campus nationally funded and operated.
Moreover, Baking thanked the Governor’s trust and assistance in extending their services in Candaba.
“We want to bring DHVSU services closer to the people here. This is our way of helping our Kapampangan youth to have quick access to quality education.
We will bring DHVSU here to further reach out to the distant populace in the far-flung areas who are unable to access tertiary education there,” Baking furthered.
The campus, expected to be finished by June 2020, will cater at least 2,000 students.
Furthermore, under the MOA, the local government unit of Candaba will provide P4 million “by way of continuing appropriation in its annual budget and grant this to DHVSU to cover personal service payments (P2,000,000) and expenses relating to the operation of the Extension Campus such as for utilities, renovation, and improvement of facilities and other related expenditures P2,000,000).”
The MOA signing was witnessed by 4th District Rep. Bondoc, 4th District Board Member Pol Balingit, Pampanga Councilors’ League (PCL) President Board Member Venancio “Ashong” Macapagal, Arayat Mayor Emmanuel “Bon” Alejandrino, Former Caloocan Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo, and members of the Sangguniang Bayan headed by Vice Mayor Sagum.