The CALABARZON Regional Development Council (RDC) awarded Batangas State University (BatStateU) as the 2021 Outstanding Project Implementer during its 4th Quarter Full Council Meeting held via Zoom video conference on Dec. 9.
University President Dr. Tirso Ronquillo accepted the award during the virtual ceremonies led by RDC Chairperson Batangas Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas. Later on Dec. 17, Engr. Luis G. Banua, Director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) IV-A handed over the Plaque of Recognition to Pres. Ronquillo at the NEDA Bldg. in Calamba City, Laguna.
According to the NEDA, the Search for Outstanding Project Implementer (SOPI) is an annual activity of the CALABARZON Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) which aims to promote the efficient and effective implementation of development projects in the Region. The project implementer is evaluated based on its efficiency in project management and implementation, innovations and good practices, and budget utilization.
Engr. Antonio A. Gamboa, Director of the Project Management Office (PMO) submitted the Construction of the Two-Storey Student Services Center Building (SSCB) II Project of the JPLPC-Malvar Campus in the Search. The project started last December 2019 and was completed in December 2020 with a total project cost of Php 22.5 million.
During the validation meeting of the Evaluation Committee last Oct. 28, BatStateU was recommended for the award after passing the evaluation criteria. Last Nov. 4, the CALABARZON RPMC formally endorsed BatStateU to the RDC Adhoc Committee on Awards as the SOPI awardee.
Among the best practices and innovations of BatStateU in the project include the creation of multiple-layered Project Management Team (PMT); well-structured project implementation and management processes through coordination meetings and quality assurance and cost control methods, provision of project inspection and corrective action reports; and the continuous evaluation of existing external providers for ongoing and other completed projects.
Since 2014, the University has witnessed massive infrastructure development, through the leadership of Pres. Ronquillo, that is faithful to its mandate of providing a world-class university atmosphere to its students and responding to the challenges of the 21st century.
Through strategic planning and sound project management, the University was able to complete 98 infrastructure projects amounting to nearly Php 1.6 billion from 2014-2021. These projects include the construction of additional higher education buildings, libraries, student centers, research and development facilities, technology park, and improvement of campus environment.
Currently, BatStateU has 19 ongoing infrastructure development projects in all of its constituent and extension campuses with a total contract amount of over Php 627 million under the strict monitoring of the PMO.
Batangas State University is a Level IV state university in the CALABARZON region, and the only SUC in the country accredited by the US Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for its Engineering and Information Technology programs. It is rated 3 stars in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) list of top universities and has the highest number of ASEAN Engineers faculty among Philippine higher education institutions.
