Tarlac State University entered a Memorandum of Agreement with the Local Government of La Paz for the opening of the TSU La Paz Campus on Thursday morning (March 24, 2022) at the Pagbabago Hall in this town.
This is the third campus initiated by a Tarlac LGU following Capas and Concepcion campuses. The TSU La Paz campus is situated at the heart of the town, one kilometer away from the municipal hall.
The 1,800 square meter lot where the two-story school building is erected was donated by the family of Engr. Venustiano Martinez, a renowned and well-respected man in the town.
According to La Paz Mayor Venustiano Jordan, they wish to offer Criminology, Public Administration, and Education courses. He also said that a building near the market can be converted to add more classrooms and accommodate more students.
Moreover, they will offer more scholarships for the students soon.
The mayor is also planning to procure a shuttle bus which will ferry students (especially those enrolled in evening classes) to all TSU campuses in Tarlac City.
“Ang itatawag po [dito] ay Tarlac State University La Paz Campus. Kayo [ang] nagpapasalamat sa amin [pero] parang baliktad. Kami dapat ang magpasalamat sa pamahalaan ng La Paz dahil kayo ay nagtiwala sa TSU na buksan ang inyong mga pintuan para ‘yung mga estudyanteng nahihirapang makapunta sa kabayanan dahil mamamasahe pa at yung pamasahe ay gamitin na lang nila sa iba nilang pangangailangan sa buhay [‘yung pera nila],” TSU President Dr. Myrna Q. Mallari said in her message during the program.
The opening of campuses in different towns of Tarlac is in consonance with one of university’s advocacies – to bring TSU closer to the communities.
“Una, marami tayong estudyante na wala ni pamasahe. La Paz is far from Tarlac City. So imagine mo kung 200 [pesos] ang pamasahe, pagkain na nila ‘yon. Samantalang kung nandito ang campus, lalakad lang sila, malapit na, kaya matutuwa ang mga magulangm,” Pres. Mallari further said.
According to Pres. Mallari, some faculty members from the Main Campus will be assigned to teach at the La Paz Campus. Students will study in La Paz for the first two years and will continue the succeeding two years at the Main Campus for their practicum and laboratory courses.
