ARTECHE, Eastern Samar (PIA) – The construction of a P22 million academic building and a P5 million multi-purpose building at the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU)-Arteche Extension Campus is expected to address classroom shortages here.
The academic building project is a two-storey structure that can accommodate over 400 students.
It includes eight classrooms, one faculty office, comfort rooms, and storage rooms, covering 860 square meters. The project’s expected completion time is 168 days.
The second project entails a multipurpose building with a two-story structure covering 70.28 square meters. The projected completion time for the building is 122 calendar 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.
Christine Daculan, an incoming 3rd-year Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management student, shared that students in each program attend classes for only two days a week due to a shortage of classrooms on campus.
“Daku talaga in nga bulig nga proyekto kay duha la kami ka adlaw na-eskwela kada semana, Lunes la ngan Martes, Myerkules ngan Huwebes an iba nga kurso, so limited la an learning namon kay kulang man an classrooms,” she said.
(The two projects will be a huge help for us students because, as of now, we only attend classes twice a week, on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday are for other courses, so our learning is limited because we need more classrooms.)
Minority Leader and 4Ps Partylist Rep. Marcelino Libanan mentioned that the two infrastructures would create additional opportunities for students at ESSU-Arteche.
“Ito ay magbibigay ng mas modernong pasilidad at mga kagamitan na kinakailangan upang higit pang mapabuti ang ating sistema ng edukasyon,” Libanan added.
During the public hearing of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, House Bill No. 9772, or 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 its committee chair, Sen. Chiz Escudero.
Libanan added 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 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, who pushed for funding allocation for both projects, led the groundbreaking on Sunday, June 9, along with other local government officials, community leaders, and university stakeholders. (VTG, PIA Eastern Samar)
