By CESAR JOLITO III
The local government of Moises Padilla is seeking the intervention of Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to resolve a pressing land ownership issue involving the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) Moises Padilla Campus.
A key item on the agenda was the expiration of a usufruct agreement involving the two-hectare property currently occupied by CPSU.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina Garcia-Yulo, Vice Mayor Felix Mathias Segundo Yulo and members of the Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation paid a courtesy visit to Lacson at the Provincial Capitol yesterday.
Garcia-Yulo said the usufruct agreement, which was initiated by former Mayor Francisco Nazareno, allowed CPSU to utilize a parcel of land under a 10-year usufruct arrangement.
However, the contract expired in 2017, and the property owner is now seeking to reclaim the land.
Yulo appealed to the governor for assistance to safeguard the campus and prevent possible disruption to its operations.
In addition to the CPSU land issue, Garcia-Yulo and her team also raised the town’s need for support in improving its water system — another longstanding concern that affects both households and agricultural productivity.
Lacson assured the delegation of the provincial government’s initial commitment to help mediate and explore possible legal and administrative remedies to ensure that educational services are not interrupted.
He acknowledged the urgency of the matter and expressed willingness to coordinate with relevant provincial offices to address the water issue.
The CPSU-Moises Padilla Campus, located in Barangay 7, sits on a 4.4-hectare land area and currently serves over 1,000 students from the town and nearby local government units.
The university started its operations on June 10, 2008 after Board Resolution No. 39, series of 2007, officially created the Negros State College of Agriculture, Moises Padilla Campus on September 19, 2007.
CPSU offers degree programs in education, agribusiness and information technology, and serves as a vital hub for higher education in central Negros Occidental.
Tañon College to cease operations
Tañon College Inc., a longstanding educational institution in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City, has officially announced that it will no longer continue offering academic programs for second- and third-year students starting in the upcoming academic term.
The decision comes in compliance with an order from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
In an official announcement released by the school administration, the college cited “institutional limitations” that prevent it from meeting the required policies, standards and guidelines set by CHED.
As a result, the college is left with no choice but to discontinue its services for upper-year college students.
“We respectfully advise you to make arrangements to transfer to another higher education institution where you can continue and complete your degree programs,” the school management said in a statement.
The administration emphasized that it will support all affected students throughout the transition process.
The registrar’s office will facilitate the release of transfer credentials and assist students in processing the necessary documents for admission to their new institutions.
This development marks a significant shift in San Carlos City’s local education landscape, particularly for students enrolled in higher-year college programs.
No specific reason was detailed about the exact nature of the institutional limitations, but the announcement clearly reflects a directive mandated by CHED oversight./CJ, WDJ