The University of the Philippines Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment (UP PSAE) broke ground on Friday at the Agriya Township in Barangay Cagangohan, Panabo City, Davao del Norte.
The signing of the Deeds of Donation (DOD) and the groundbreaking ceremony signal the start of the construction of the extension campus of the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) in Mindanao.
DLI president Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo, DLI assistant vice president for the township and tourism Macy Bibat, University of the Philippines (UP) president lawyer Angelo Jimenez, UP-Los Baños chancellor Dr. Jose Camacho Jr. signed the DOD on behalf of Damosa Land Inc. (DLI), Anflo Management and Investment Corporation, and University of the Philippines-Los Baños for the lot where the school will be built.
UP PSAE will rise on a 31,800 square meter property at the Agriya Township, wherein the 12,800 sqm was donated by the Anflo Management and Investment Corp. while the 19,000 sqm was donated by DLI.
Its first building will be donated by the Anflo Group through the Don Antonio O. Floirendo Sr. Foundation, which was signified by the DOD signing between Anflo and UP led by Anflo Group vice chairman Ricardo Floirendo, Jimenez, Camacho Jr., and Bibat.
UP PSAE will serve as the extension campus of the University of the Philippines-Los Banos (UPLB) in Mindanao. It currently offers eight postgraduate programs in an off campus-mode namely MS Entomology, MS Environmental Science, Ph.D. Environmental Science, MS Soil Science, MS Rural Sociology, Master in Animal Nutrition, Master in Food Engineering, and Diploma in Environmental Planning.
Camacho assured that what they are bringing in the project is quality education in agriculture and the environment.
“Talagang malaking pangarap ito nung una kasi we have to consider the dynamics of Mindanao. But essentially to bring quality education not just graduate quality education but to make education more inclusive UP education. Yes, we have here UP Mindanao and hindi po tayo makipag compete sa UP Mindanao,” he said.
Angeles said they are strengthening their presence not just in Panabo City and Mindanao but also in neighboring countries like Indonesia.
He said what they are trying to provide in the project is the latest technology for the development of the agricultural industry and the livelihood of people and sustainability in terms of environmental awareness.
“Nalipay mi nga naa mi diri and we are going to cooperate and committed to making this a very successful partnership with Anflo and Damosa,” he said.
The UP PSAE is envisioned to uplift the practice of agriculture in the Davao Region and an accessible hub for knowledge sharing in an agricultural and related discipline to support human resources in Mindanao.
The construction will start this month and is targeted to be finished in October 2024.
Meanwhile, Lagdameo is foreseeing a vibrant Panabo City and Davao del Norte with the presence of the school.
“It creates an ecosystem whenever a school is put up. Every time I passed by Los Banos grabe yung traffic because there are so many people there, it’s a vibrant lively community. If we can replicate what is in Los Banos, it would be a very vibrant Panabo City and Davao del Norte,” he said.
The campus will complement the residential, commercial, and agritourism components inside Agriya, an 88-hectare master-planned township, which is considered the first-of-its kind agricultural metropolis in the country and in Asia.
