BSU officials led by President Felipe Salaing Comila and Open University (OU) Director, Leonardo T. Apilis marked the construction of a new OU building through a Groundbreaking Ceremony on January 11, 2024. The soon-to-be OU building is located near the College of Information Sciences (CIS).

The ceremony also included the unveiling of the billboard and the laying of the cornerstone officiated by Matias C. Angiwan Jr. In his message, President Comila expressed his desire to see an increase in OU enrolment in the following semesters so that the new building will serve its purpose. He also shared his dream for an enhanced OU curriculum, making it entrepreneurially inclined to produce more graduates
who are not only limited to an employee-oriented mindset but who will help boost the country’s job creation and decrease the high amount of unemployment.

Apilis, together with OU Assistant Director, Rashid B. Lokines, also conveyed their delight in this noble undertaking as they look forward to a brighter future with quality facility and instruction delivery.

BSU-OU alumna, Meliarazon F. Dulay M.D., who serves as the Benguet Provincial Health Officer, concluded the ceremony with a message of gratitude and well-wishes to the university. “I believe that my stay in this university molded me through HEALTHIER education,” she said.

Using the acronym H-E-A-L-T-H-I-E-R, she summarized her definition of a healthier education which are: holistic learning, empowerment, active lifestyle, lifelong learning, team collaboration, health advocacy, innovation, ethical leadership, and resilience.

The ceremony was also graced by the presence of CHED-CAR education supervisors and Lita M. Colting, a former BSU-OU Director.

The new BSU Open University building and the associated aspirations are a concrete step towards strengthening Quality Education (#Goal4) by improving facilities, expanding access, and making the curriculum more relevant. This, in turn, directly supports Decent Work and Economic Growth (#Goal8) by breeding an entrepreneurial spirit among graduates. The construction itself also contributes to Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (#Goal9), and the collaborative nature of the event reflects Partnerships for the Goals (#Goal17). //CANapiloy