Valenzuela City’s quest for high-quality public tertiary education continues to advance by leaps and bounds as it officially opens tonight, January 19, the PhP 361.6 Million new Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) campus is located along Tongco Street in Barangay Maysan, Valenzuela City.

The 1.7-hectare modern campus situated at the bosom of the City is comprised of three Western Mediterranean-inspired buildings with a total floor area of 16,305.15 square meters including the cafeteria.  Total building construction cost was pegged merely at a rate of PhP 22,175.48 per square meter, or a total construction cost of PhP 361,574,005.38.

The campus features hi-tech amenities, such as the laboratories for Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communications Engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Materials Testing, Fluid Mechanics, Chemistry, Physics, and speech communication.  It also boasts of a University Library with varied selections of reading materials, an audio-visual room, spacious lecture rooms, and a student’s lounge where PLVians can loosen up from daily academic pressures.

Prior to the of the signing of the Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” the local government of Valenzuela has already implemented in October 2016 the full subsidy on tuition fee and miscellanous fees, including school ID, medical, newsletter, handbook, laboratory, sports, multimedia, and guidance and counselling fees in its public tertiary institutions – the PLV and the Valenzuela City Polytechnic College (ValPoly).                                            ­

Launched alongside the new campus is another revolutionary project, the PLV World card.  The radio frequency identification (RFID)-enabled cards are the students’ access to a whole new world of topnotch university experience.  It will serve as their pass to enter the campus.   Once they tapped, their parents or guardian are notified through a text message whether they went in or out of the campus.  This is also their access to their online university records, class schedules and university advisories.  It will also serve as a discount card to merchants inside and outside of the campus.

Another highlight was the unveiling of the once ignored, now newly restored Eduardo Castrillo sculpture which will now serve as the campus’ symbol of pride on its maxim of academic excellence.

Opened in June 2002, the PLV is a city-funded institution that initially catered to 500 students.  Now nurturing over 5,000 students including the senior high school students, it has evolved to become one of the most modern and advanced tertiary institutions, and continues to meet the growing demand for high quality education which is at par with the best universities in the country and the world.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, former Valenzuela chief executive and proponent of the nationwide Free Higher Education Act, lauded the inauguration of the new campus. “Since my time as mayor of the city, we have always envisioned a world class university because we always believe that our youth is the hope of this city and nation”. The Senator also pledged for the additional funding for the construction of the building of College of Education.

Another public servant commmited to education, Davao City First District Representative, Congressman Karlo Alexei Nograles congratulated the city government for yet another educational milestone in the city, saying the local government has invested a lot in order to raise the bar of excellence and standard of public tertiary education in the country. “This university is undoubtedly at par with what private learning institutions have to offer”. He lauded the city and university officials in its undying commitment to provide the students with world class learning facilities that will hone their skills and knowledge.

Mayor REX Gatchalian, on the other hand, had instilled their promise of making PLV a truly world class university with a productive, competitive and decent studentry and workforce. “This new campus is designed to make the students globally competitive, and in the long run, to accommodate 10,000 Valenzuelano youth who are seeking quality yet affordable tertiary education”, he added.

The inauguration is part of the series of activities for the birthday celebration of Mayor REX Gatchalian with the theme, “Tuluy-tuloy ang Asenso.”