DLSU COL set to move to BGC extension campus by 2015

The eventual relocation of the College of Law to BGC may be in line with the relocation of the UP College of Law and possibly the Supreme Court to the same area.

The University’s College of Law (COL) will be enjoying a campus in Bonifacio Global City after a few years, perhaps aligned with motions for the possible movement of the UP College of Law and even the Supreme Court to the same location.

Last September, the Philippine Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) awarded DLSU a lot within the institutional area of Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The leasing contract was signed in October this year.

Pursuant to the University’s strategic development plan, a six-storey building will be built on the 1,395 square meter land. This building is set to house DLSU’s COL, alongside its continuing and professional courses. Though still in its planning stage, the completed building may either serve as a satellite campus of COL, or contain the entire college after a complete move.

College of Law Dean Atty. Jose Manuel Diokno states his enthusiasm for the college’s new direction. “We’re very excited. We feel like it’s a good location for a law school. I understand that even the Supreme Court is thinking of transferring from Manila to that area. Even the UP College of Law has plans to go there… it would be great if we could open up a campus, or at least an extension, in BGC.”

UP Professional Schools are also currently constructing upon a 4,300 square meter lot in the same area. The completed campus aims to house additional academic units from its various course programs, including their College of Law. The construction began July last year.

Atty. Diokno further shares that the College of Law will be establishing a professional development center, emphasizing on the need for applied experience in law school. This center, in addition to their professional course offerings, will provide short courses and applied law training courses. The programs will be open to not just Filipino lawyers, but other practitioners, interns and international students as well.

He indicates additional plans for internationalization, in line with plans for ASEAN. Atty. Diokno adds that COL has existing memorandums of collaboration with the University of Hong Kong, along with several universities from different countries in the world — including Japan and the United States. A number of the planned new courses center on foreign law.

Managed by a team headed by Associate Vice President for Facilities Management Engr. Ronaldo Gallardo, the new COL building is due to open by AY 2015-16.

According to BCDA President Arnel Casanova, DLSU will be paying an annual lease of Php 3.9 million pesos per year, with an annual escalation of 5 percent. He adds that 50 percent of the leases will go into the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program.