ILOILO CITY (PIA) -- First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a four-story College of Law building at the West Visayas State University (WVSU).

The First Lady is a part-time faculty member at WVSU College of Law where she teaches Criminal Law.

The WVSU, which is the first and only state university in Western Visayas that offers a legal education program in the region, recognizes the need for a separate building.

According to DPWH Regional Director Sonny Boy O. Oropel, the College of Law (COL) building is situated within the main campus of WVSU in the La Paz district of this City and will be a green building with a total floor area of 3,456 square meters or 864 square meters per floor.

Facilities to include in the construction are six theater-type air-conditioned classrooms, an auditorium, a review room, a conference room, a legal clinic, a Wi-Fi connection, and a library.

To further enhance the capabilities of the law students, the building will also house two moot courtrooms, an arbitration or training room, and a Journal for Law Advocacy Office which will be used for the simulation of court hearings and litigation processes, among others.

For the instructors, a faculty room and offices for the college dean and associate dean will also be available upon completion of the project.

Apart from these, the COL building will also house a cafeteria, prayer room, storage or supplies room, comfort rooms with persons with disability (PWD) accessible facilities, and a parking area.

To promote the use of sustainable energy, the project also includes solar panels to supply power to the building. Elevators will also be available to allow easy access to all levels of the building for the students, faculty members, and guests.

Security features will also be incorporated including close circuit televisions or CCTV and a key card access system for the entire building.

Meanwhile, the façade of the building will be integrated with the design elements of WVSU’s Quezon Hall, to give value to the university’s most notable and oldest building, which has also been contributing as the temporary home for the current students of the College since its inception in 2020.

“The new building signifies more than just another addition to WVSU's infrastructure -- it symbolizes the alignment of destiny, affirming that this College is indeed on the right track,” he added.

Meanwhile, in her message, WVSU-COL Dean Pauline Grace B. Alfuente assured that the College and its professors of law will remain dedicated to fostering legal excellence and nurturing the bright minds that will shape the future of the legal profession, knowing that they can do better in a new home.

According to the public works department, the project is targeted to be completed within 458 days after the commencement of its construction. (AAL/FRG/PIA6)