PHYSICAL Plant and General Services Division Director Romeo R. Duldulao reported Oct. 17 the near completion of the Managasep Building, the site of the call center project of the Commission on Higher Education  (CHED)and MMSU.

According to Duldulao, 96 percent of the total scope of works has been completed. As of this date, carpentry work is 100 percent finished while roofing, mill, masonry/plastering/floor finishing, and electrical works are almost done.  Plumbing work is 75 percent done.

The university’s board of regents during its 71st regular meeting last Aug. 22 approved the realignment of PhP1.988M for the completion of the Mangasep Building’s second floor.  This approval is contained in Board Resolution No. 822, s. 2006.

The administration is fast-tracking the completion of the building as it assured CHED to be ready with it at least by Oct. 16. 

The university was one of the original sites recommended for the establishment of a call center for Region I.   In late August, however, MMSU was asked by CHED to improve its proposed site for it to be included in the final list of recommended institutions.  CHED requires that the state university or college must have available space for the center, manpower pool, telecommunications carriers, and less congested by multinational call centers.  Aside from completing the second level of the Mangasep Building, MMSU has met the major criteria set by CHED.

Funds for painting, tile, and electrical works for the area will be part of the amount allocated by CHED for MMSU.

The establishment of a call center in the university is part of the Business Process Outsourcing Incubation for Contact Centers Project of the commission.  This is a unique system of enabling state universities and colleges through the support of CHED to be a vehicle for industry development, job creation, and institutional income generation.  As the university will create jobs primarily for its graduates, it will also, at the same time, generate additional income that can be used for the improvement of its facilities and services.

Aside from MMSU and Bicol University, 14 other state universities and colleges scattered in 10 regions are candidates of CHED’s project.  In Region I, Pangasinan State University and Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University have been recommended as sites. Ultimately, Region I will have the most number of CHED-assisted call centers in the country.