“TESDAMAN” and Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education Chairman Senator Joel Villanueva came to Cebu Normal University (CNU) and conveyed a discourse within the spectrum of academic undertakings and approaches to higher education held in Tandang Sora Hall yesterday afternoon.

 

The approximately hour-long event thrived through an in-person forum with the selected CNU administration members; CNU-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) College of Medicine (CM) faculty and students; board of regents; and was also attended virtually by various stakeholders via Zoom.

 

During his speech, Villanueva shared his enthusiasm for visiting CNU as he openly expressed that he always watched over its endeavors and commended the university for its actions in facing the challenges that surged during the pandemic.

 

“I’d like to congratulate the Cebu Normal University, headed by our President Dr. Filomena Dayagbil, of course ang ating mga deans and faculty and staff, ‘cause amid the COVID-19 pandemic, ‘yong learning continuity nangyari po,” he said.

 

Apart from recognizing CNU’s achievements, the academic dialogue also acknowledged the senator’s contributions to the institution of CM and for his part in promoting medical education in higher education.

 

Having “lobbied for the budget allocation to increase the carrying capacity” of the CM, the dean of CNU-VSMMC CM Dr. Maria Socorro Manaloto apprised Villanueva with the college’s background and developments.

 

She informed that the first state-funded college of medicine in Region 7 was able to accept students in less than two months.

“We have to produce competent physicians and at the same time focus on primary health care,” said Manaloto during her presentation of the Doctor of Medicine Education model.

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Filomena T. Dayagbil, CESE Officer-in-Charge – Office of the University President expressed her gratitude to the senator who supported the institution of the CNU-VSMMC CM and authored the Doktor para sa Bayan Act; a law that allocates budget to increase the scholarship slots for aspiring doctors.

 

“It is seldom that we see Sen. Joel up close and personal, so we might as well really thank him for everything that he has done for the university, especially the establishment of the College of Medicine. … He has been actually supporting us ever since we started with this endeavor,” she stated.

 

Dayagbil also extended her appreciation of Villanueva’s presence in the academe as a part of his advocacy to “engage with [the] allies in higher education”.