DPWH to help build first public Law School in Western Visayas

Law students of the West Visayas State University in Iloilo City will soon have their own learning facility with a new building to be constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Said building is made possible through the initiative of the First Lady, Atty. Maria Louise Araneta Marcos, who is also a faculty member of the college.

DPWH Undersecretary for Regional Operations Roberto R. Bernardo, Assistant Secretary for Regional Operations Nerie D. Bueno, DPWH-6 Regional Director Sanny Boy O. Oropel, along with Atty. Marcos, university heads, and heads of various agencies and law schools in the region recently broke ground for the construction of the new WVSU College of Law building, the first public law school in Western Visayas.

The ₱400-million facility funded under DPWH FY 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA), involves the construction of a 4-storey building on a bored pile foundation with a total area of 3,456 meters and approximately 864 square meters per floor.

It includes six (6) theater-type, airconditioned classrooms, two (2) Moot Courtrooms, an Auditorium, an Arbitration/Training room, a Review room, a Conference room, and a Faculty room.

The facility also includes the Dean’s and Associate Dean’s office, Legal Clinic, Library, Journal for Law Advocacy office, Prayer room, Storage room, Comfort rooms with PWD-Accessible facilities, and Parking area.

It is also equipped with necessary amenities to include solar panels for uninterrupted power supply, a key card access system for security, elevators for easy access, a closed-circuit television system (CCTV) for safety and security, and WiFi access. It likewise features the design elements of the Quezon Hall which is present in the façade.

“This building is a significant milestone towards the achievement of Legal education in WVSU, which offers the first public Law School in the region. This will provide conducive spaces for students, teachers and administrators,” Regional Director Sanny Boy O. Oropel said.

“This is a state-of-the-art facility that will help our students achieve their dreams of being future lawyers at a lower cost compared to going to private universities. The facility could boost their drive to be our future defender of justice,” Oropel added.

Other than building roads, bridges and flood control projects, DPWH is committed to providing quality infrastructure projects such as school buildings that will help improve the lives of the Filipino people in the pursuit of national development objectives. (DPWH-6)