BIÑAN CITY, Laguna (PIA) — Education remains one of the priority programs of the city government of Biñan as it implements education initiatives with the launch of the second campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in the city.

During the celebration of Araw ng Biñan on February 2, Mayor Walfredo Dimaguila Jr. inaugurated the second campus of PUP-Biñan which will focus primarily on information technology and engineering programs.

Dimaguila said that the city government is at the forefront of ensuring that every deserving student in the city will have access to the high-quality education PUP is known for.

"We guarantee that every individual has the chance to receive a free, high-quality education, and we think PUP can offer that to the people of Biñan," he stated.

The 2,500-square-meter land is located in Barangay. Canlalay was acquired by the city government for P150 million. The campus is home to a four-storey building with 18 classrooms and four fully-functioning laboratories.

By March, the city projects that more than 1,000 students who want to pursue tertiary education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses will be accommodated by PUP.

As an added assistance to PUP students, the city government launched a free transportation service to and from the campus. Dubbed as ‘Isko-mobile’, the service fetches students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel of the university across different strategic areas within the city as a way to lessen their transportation costs. 

“From Poblacion to PUP, it costs around P80 vice versa. Some might also run into abusive drivers who might overcharge. So we decided to procure passenger trucks for PUP, and the university was happy about it,” Dimaguila added.

The local chief executive brands the initiative as ‘a simple project’ and a ‘common sense’ thing to do, in addition to their other learning initiatives.

The ‘Iskolar ng Biñan’ program awarded to deserving students will be supported completely from the start up to their completion of studies and will not shell out any amount throughout their formal education.

Biñan shoulders other expenses of a scholar, including miscellaneous fees, and gives out P10,000 in allowance per semester for scholars enrolled in state universities and colleges.

With the city’s continued efforts to make every dream of Biñanense happen, Dimaguila advised students to strive harder in their studies for their future. (AM,CH/PIA-Laguna)

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