By Aljon P. Tugaoen

Ensuring the viability and sustainability of long-term, institutional development projects, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Technical Working Group nodded Mariano Marcos State University's Land Use Development and Infrastructure Plan (LUDIP) dubbed SIRMATA 2040.

Mr. Reyen M. Sabate, chief education program specialist of the CHED Regional Office 1, spearheaded the evaluation of MMSU’s 20-year plan, with respect to MMSU LUDIP’s general workability.

Also part of the TWG were Mr. Ricky Cera and Ms. Ruth Anne Ruelos from CHED; Ms. Marilyn Rusuello and Ms. Joceleene Bumatay from Department of Budget and Management; Mr. Cromwell Paolo Cabreros of Department of Public Works and Highways; Arch. Claudio Rillera, Jr. of Philippine Institute of Environmental Planning North Luzon Chapter; and Environmental Planner Pedro Agcaoili, Jr. of the Provincial Planning and Development Office Ilocos Norte.

The group visited the five campuses of MMSU - Batac, Currimao, Dingras, Laoag and Paoay - to validate the information presented in the university’s LUDIP regarding the transformation of MMSU land and infrastructure.

During the closing program held today, October 19 at the Center for Flexible Learning, Sabate said MMSU LUDIP is good for implementation, having been a product of key personnel’s rigid consultative meetings and planning sessions.

Engr. Romeo R. Duldulao, director for physical planning and development, led the MMSU team during the evaluation presented the future perspectives and 3D presentations of all campuses to the TWG.

In an interview, Engr. Duldulao said that the MMSU team will further improve their plans on road network, power, water supply, and waste disposal, as recommended by the CHED-TWG during the three-day evaluation.

“The key to fully implement our MMSU Sirmata 2040 is a seamless collaboration between MMSU and DBM along with our partner government agencies,” Engr. Duldulao told.

Also present in the evaluation were Engr. Ami Ruth Cocson, vice president for planning and development, Dr. Oscar  Agpaoa, vice president for administration and finance, Dr. Sherlyn Nicolas, chief for monitoring and evaluation under planning directorate, Engr. Jorge Escalano, DRRM chief, and Dr. Bobby Eclarin, chief for knowledge management under planning directorate.

In 2020, the Commission on Higher Education granted MMSU with a Php 2 million fund to craft its LUDIP through a memorandum of agreement signed by MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis and CHED Chair J. Prospero De Vera III.

Sirmata 2040 serves as the university’s blueprint in setting and mobilizing its land resources and infrastructure for the next 20 years. It was crafted through a series of activities conducted: benchmarking and preparation of start-up working paper; development of survey materials; consultation with concerned stakeholders; conduct of sectoral studies; hiring of consultants; data assessment and analytics; projection, planning, and preparation of LUDIP documents; designing and re-designing of building perspectives; validation and finalization.

It also includes the university’s reserve areas in Nagbacsan, Payao, Lubbot, and Sarnap in Batac.

RA 11396 requires SUCs to prepare and implement their LUDIP, a requirement for the approval of their future infrastructure projects. (JVBT/HYL, StratCom)