By Emme Rose Santiagudo
Western Visayas State University (WVSU) aims to open a College of Law and offer the Juris Doctor Degree Program at its main campus in La Paz, Iloilo City in 2020.
This was announced by the WVSU President Dr. Joselito Villaruz during his investiture speech as the 8th president of the university Wednesday.
Once realized, WVSU will be the first state university to offer legal education in Western Visayas.
The university has a pending application with the Legal Education Board for the opening of its College of Law.
In September 2019, the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) approved a resolution endorsing the proposal of WVSU to open a College of Law.
Copies of the resolution were forwarded to the Legal Education Board and Commission of Higher Education in Region 6.
“In the region, there are five law schools in all private universities that cater to those who aspire to be a member of the legal profession, namely University of San Agustin (USA), Central Philippine University (CPU), Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, Aklan Catholic College and University of St. La Salle,” Councilor Rudolph Jeffrey Ganzon, proponent of the resolution said.
In Panay, only two universities – the University of Agustin (USA) and Central Philippine University (CPU) – offer the Bachelor of Law/Juris Doctor.
Ganzon said he is confident that WVSU will bring the same quality, standards, and excellence to its students through the College of Law.
“WVSU will be the only public institution of higher learning to offer a law degree in Western Visayas. WVSU attracts and accommodates financially challenged but academically able students as it brings to the College of Law the same quality, standards, and excellence afforded to students in the WVSU system,” he said.
In previous interviews, Villaruz said he hopes to build on the quality and excellent standards of the university.
“My mission would always be to maintain the quality standards and excellence standards of the university in terms of producing excellent professionals that will serve the human resources needs of the region and the country and of the world,” he said.
Villaruz was elected as the eighth WVSU president by the Board of Regents (BOR). He succeeded Dr. Luis Sorolla Jr. who served the university as president for more than five years.
