New home of BukSU College of Law set to rise in the annex campus

The College of Law (COL) at Bukidnon State University (BukSU) is set to move to its new home at the Annex A Campus in Casisang, Malaybalay City.

The groundbreaking ceremony at the site took place on March 1, 2024, with the presence of BukSU President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, Vice President for Administration and Finance Mr. Dante S. Victoria Jr, and COL Dean Atty. Ophelia Pilar E. Rubio-Zamora.

Established in 2002, the COL currently operates from the former College of Business Administration and Information Technology building on the main campus.

“Today marks the beginning of a journey one that will share the future of legal education and practice, especially in this area of Bukidnon. As we break ground on this new campus, we also break barriers forging ahead with innovation, excellence, and commitment to justice,” Victoria said.

“What we do today will surely have an effect on how things are to be done and will definitely result in a significant outcome in the future for the College. We stand here today, more importantly, to witness the significant support and confidence of our stakeholders they have showered us immensely,” Rubio-Zamora said.

The project, initially proposed by former COL Dean Atty. Sherry Mae Velos-Decang, received funding assistance from Bukidnon 1st District Representative Hon. Atty. Jonathan Keith T. Flores.

“I was only invited to speak for the graduation of the College of Law and listened to them that it would be wonderful if the college would own a building. So, we tried working this out and searching for funds. I really hope this will be one way or another encourage more people in Malaybalay to take up Law so that we can respond to the needs of the people,” Flores shared.

Also present during the ceremony are the students and alumni of COL.

“Being a member of the pioneering batch of the College of Law, it has been a long dream to have our own building. We are very happy. The alumni can now visit a building we call our own,” said BukSU Law Alumni Association President, Atty. Nestor Cajes.

“My expectations about this building is we will have enough space for classrooms that are suitable for the bar exam practices where we can utilize and make use of laptops for our quizzes and exams. Also, we expect that our access to the library is extended because of our schedule of classes like us working students, we can make use of it beyond 5 PM,” said BukSU Law Students Society President, Ms. Danielle Adrienne Masiba.

According to Department of Public Works and Highways-Bukidnon 1st District Engineer Flordelis C. Enriquez, construction of the project will commence after the groundbreaking ceremony. The P19.6 million project will include a library, mock courtroom, faculty rooms, and smart classrooms, expected to be used next year.

“We are happy that the College of Law will finally have its soon-to-be-built a state-of-the-art structure and be a new home to our future legal practitioners as our College of Law professors will nurture the minds of our future ethical lawyers. BukSU shall continue to inculcate in them the principles of ethics and integrity. I extend my deepest gratitude to all involved in bringing this vision to the future. Let us reaffirm our commitment, excellence, ethics, and progress,” said University President Mirasol.