UST opens Mindanao campus

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has opened its first campus in Mindanao.

Bishop Cerilo Alan Casicas of Marbel and Dominican Prior Provincial Fr. Filemon dela Cruz Jr. inaugurated the 82-hectare campus in General Santos City on Thursday, according to a report of Felipe Salvosa II, UST Manila's journalism program head, posted on the website of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP),

The report said the campus will offer programs in the health sciences, business and accountancy, and engineering and information technology to an expected initial 500 enrollees.

UST Rector Fr. Richard Ang was quoted as saying that the campus represents UST’s bid to make General Santos City “an educational center” in the region.

He further said that “UST is not a threat, but a treat” as he vowed to collaborate with other higher education institutions in the city.

The report further said the seven-story main building can accommodate 5,000 students. It is patterned after the main building in UST’s Manila campus.

It added that on April 25, UST GenSan will break ground the Dr. Ricardo S. Po, Sr. Integrated Innovation and Research Laboratories, another major campus structure. —Joahna Lei Casilao/AOL, GMA Integrated News