New UPang-PHINMA inaugurated
THE merger between University of Pangasinan, the oldest university in Northern Luzon and the Philippine Investment and Management Group (PHINMA) was made public last Sunday with the inauguration of the new University of Pangasinan-PHINMA.
Leading the inauguration were Ramon del Rosario, chief executive officer of PHINMA, considered one of the biggest in vestment firms in the country; Dr. Chito Salazar, UPang’s president; and Dr. Catalino Rivera, university chancellor.
In his speech, del Rosario said PHINMA vowed to make UPang “truly a national class university”.
“Our vision for the new UPang is to build on its legacy of greatness and produce a truly national class University, one recognized throughout the country for its academic standards, the professionals that it produces, and its contribution to community and nation-building,” Rosario added.
UPang, which started by the name Dagupan Institute, then Dagupan Colleges, was founded in 1925 by the late Dr. Blas Rayos before it was taken over by businessman Cesar Duque, who belongs to the family that owns the Lyceum-Northwestern University.
The new UPang-PHINMA is part of the Phinma Education Network, which includes the Araullo University in Cabanatuan City, acquired by PHINMA in 2004.
Del Rosario said the company is embarking on a major campus and facilities improvement program, with P60 million set for this year alone.
Already built are the nursing and culinary arts center which houses a new mock hospital and nursing arts lab, mock hotel, fully equipped kitchen and bartending center.
“UPang will no longer be “the oldest school looking old”, rather, it will be the region’s premier looking institution looking premier,” he said.
He revealed that discussions to buy UPang began as early as 2003.
PHINMA also owns various companies, including Union Galvasteel Corp., Phinma Properties, Microtel Inn and Suite, Trans-Asia Oil and Mineral Company and Victory Liner, with combined assets of P23 billion. —LM
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