Cojuangco, Espino inaugurate university in Binalonan

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

BINALONAN – The mayor here said that Rep. Kimi Cojuangco (5^th District, Pangasinan) and Pangasinan Governor Amado T. Espino will be the guests of honor on July 20 on the blessings and inauguration of the new campus of this town operated University of Eastern Pangasinan.

Mayor Ramon V. Guico III, a doctor of public management, said the swanky university was his brainchild when he submitted a dissertation in 2005 to then President Gloria M. Arroyo, former Speaker Jose de Venecia, then Mayor Ramon N. Guico, Jr., and this town’s officials.

“Since then the dream of establishing a university for Binalonan came into reality,” the young looking mayor stressed.

Guico said that with the support of World Citi (umbrella of WCC Aviation Company, WCC Aeronautical School, World Citi Colleges, and World Citi Medical Center) President Dr. Arlyn V. Guico and Board Chairman former Mayor Guico, Jr., he envisioned to share his wealth of experiences in academic leadership through the birth of a local university financed and sponsored by the municipal government.

He said that through Ordinance No. 2005-007 (Establishing the University of Eastern Pangasinan and for other Purposes) that was approved on December 9, 2005 and Resolution No. 239-2006 of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan culminated his dream to reality.

“Hence, UEP was born and started operations in the upper “palengke” building of the poblacion”.

Guico said that the new modern structures are located at Barangay Canarvacanan

A resident here who asked anonymity declared that this town owned UEP, like the University of Urdaneta City operated by the nearby Urdaneta City would be one of the major sources of revenues for this town’s coffer as it attracts burgeoning number of students from the nearby municipalities.

 Gloria Mondares, Budget Officer of Urdaneta City, said that UCC gives a stagerring P170 million every year to the city from the revenues the university collected from tuition fees of the thousands of its students.

Mayor Guico said that residents here who want to enroll at UEP will be given 100 percent free tuition fee except the measly miscellaneous fees.