Villaba town grants VSU access to old municipal building to expand education in the community

The Visayas State University (VSU) Villaba is set to grow its capacity to serve more students, following the official signing of a Contract of Usufruct with the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Villaba on July 14, 2025.

Held inside the Villaba Municipal Hall, the ceremonial signing formalized the university’s use of the old municipal building, and to transform the former seat of local governance into a functional space for instruction, student services, and community programs under VSU Villaba.

The agreement was signed by VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes, VSU Villaba Chancellor Dr. Reynaldo Mollejon, and Villaba Mayor Engr. Carlos G. Veloso. It was witnessed by CHED Regional Office VIII representative Dr. Catherine Iglesias, along with members of the Sangguniang Bayan, faculty and staff of VSU Villaba, and other LGU officials.

In her message, Dr. Yepes described the occasion as “a gesture of trust that recognizes how education can serve as a vital link between institutions and the people they serve.”

“This building may have stood through many chapters of Villaba’s history, but starting today, it will take on a new purpose which is to help shape the future of young learners in VSU Villaba,” she said.

With the growing demand for higher education in Northern Leyte, the additional space will allow VSU Villaba to accommodate more enrollees, providing students from Villaba and nearby towns better access to degree programs without having to relocate far from home.

Mayor Veloso also expressed his optimism that the repurposed building will bring long-term benefits, especially in creating opportunities for local youth and improving the town’s human development indicators.

The old municipal building, once a hub of local decision-making, will now be repurposed into classrooms, offices, and student service spaces. It is a strategic response to space limitations currently faced by VSU Villaba, which continues to see a steady increase in student population.

In her remarks, President Yepes also called attention to the deeper meaning behind the transfer. 

“More than the transfer of use, what this moment reflects is a genuine intention to invest in the future of our youth. It is a way of making sure that public resources are used where they can do the most good.”

VSU Villaba Chancellor Dr. Mollejon expressed gratitude to the LGU, and noted how the consistent support from the local government has helped the campus respond to the needs of its growing student body. The transfer of the old building will directly support VSU Villaba’s efforts to deliver quality public education in a rural setting.

The signing of this usufruct agreement is a proof of the mutual belief between VSU and LGU Villaba that education remains a powerful tool for progress, which must be made available and accessible to as many as possible.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) 4: Quality Education; SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and; SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

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