Stakeholders for the proposed Benguet State University in Kabayan were gathered on June 1, 2021 for a consultative meeting and ocular inspection at the Kamora National High School in Gusaran, Kabayan.  In the meeting, officials from the Department of Education-Cordillera Administrative Region (DepEd-CAR), Kabayan Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU), and Benguet State University delivered messages, presented updates, and threshed out issues and concerns.

Mr. Alfonso C. Doriano, principal of the Kamora National High School (KNHS) acknowledged Victor Cosalan as the architect of the project who has been talking about it for 20 years. Cosalan is former principal of KNHS.

BSU President Felipe Salaing Comila later on acknowledged Cosalan and his dream.

“We are here today because accordingly, you are a child of the universe, it says that beyond the wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself because you are a child of the universe, no less than the flowers, the trees and the stars that beholds us here in Kabayan. You have a right to be here. Even BSU has the righto be here, as dreamed by Apo Cosalan. Thank you, you are still alive, as we have said, to witness the realization of your dream,” said Comila.

Results of the survey conducted among parents, teachers and students as presented by Dr. Samuel L. Poliden, special assistant to the Office of the VP for Academic Affairs, showed teacher education and agriculture related courses among the preferred degree programs to be offered at the proposed BSU Kabayan campus.

The top priority courses of the student-respondents are education, nursing, information technology and agriculture related courses. The programs preferred by the community are teacher education and agriculture related programs while the teachers mostly preferred graduate studies to be offered followed by teacher education and agriculture-related programs.

The survey also asked the respondents to list down the facilities they would need. Most of them listed dormitories, reliable internet service, suitable library service, laboratories, demonstration farms, scholarships, guidance and counseling program, admission assistance, transportation service, international exposure, school canteen, food processing trainings among others.

“Generally, they hope to see the establishment of the campus as soon as possible. We are preparing the feasibility study to be submitted to CHED, said Dr. Poliden.

DepEd-CAR Regional Director Estela L. Cariño emphasized that in the government, people work together and complement each other and that there’s no divide when it comes to education. She asked the participants if anyone opposes BSU in Kabayan and it was replied with a round of applause.

“Awan ti nag-oppose (no one opposed) because this is a privilege. Idi gamin ada jay notion tayo nga, (we used to have that notion that) if you are in a school which is in your community, the quality is not the same with the quality of a school outside your community- which is wrong. There’s nothing true with that. It would depend on the learners and the teachers. So no adan to ti BSU ditoy, (when BSU will be here) then it should be a privilege, an advantage and we thank president Comila for that. Gone are the days when BSU was too far from DepEd,” said Cariño.

Further discussions were made and time was given for an open forum followed by a visit to the  Ballay Elementary School.//