Students can expect a cooler environment to study in as the Mechanical and Engineering Works Office (MEWO) disclosed the short and long-term plans for the 24/6 Learning Facility in Gokongwei Hall.
In an interview with The LaSallian, MEWO Director Engr. Nardley Jose said that the office was instructed by the University administration to keep the air conditioning units inside the Gokongwei Learning Facility on during the campus’ closed hours from 10 pm to 5 am, following complaints from students over the heat inside the facility.
“May instruction si Br. Bernie (DLSU President Br. Bernard Oca FSC) [na] ibinigay kay Ms. Kai Shan Fernandez, vice president for administration, and kay Dr. [Robert] Roleda na naiinitan daw ‘yung mga estudyante doon sa ground floor. So ang sabi ni Ma’am Kai is buksan ‘yung mga aircon doon,” Jose shared.
(Br. Bernie gave instructions to Ms. Kai Shan Fernandez, vice president for administration, and Dr. Roleda that students feel hot while staying on the ground floor, so Ma’am Kai said that air conditioning should be opened.)
Jose explained that the doors of the rooms inside the facility would be opened by 10 pm to allow cooler air to flow across the hallway. He added that the four air conditioning units in each room would be turned on rotationally. The first two will be operational from 10 pm to 2 am and the other two from 2 am to 5 am.
The director expressed that the overnight operation of the air conditioning units would be the status quo for the time being. “Walang sinabi [kung] hanggang kailan ito pero ang instruction is hangga’t walang sinasabi na tigilan ‘yun, tuloy-tuloy lang,” he stated.
(Nothing was said regarding how long this operation will be carried out, but the instruction is that unless there is an order to stop, it shall continue.)
Temporary air conditioning units will also be stationed by the beanbag areas along the hallway. Jose noted that these additions were made as the hallway was not initially designed for air conditioning. Air curtains will also be installed at the two gates of the building to keep the cold air in.
The new units are expected to be operational after the Holy Week break, should procurement processes finish on time. Jose noted that the schedule is dependent on the arrival of supplies.
For the long term, Jose shared that there are talks of building a centralized air conditioning system for the ground floor of Gokongwei Hall. “Pinapasama na ‘yan sa next academic year budget para may project na siya agad,” he said.
(It is being included in the next academic year’s budget so that a project may be implemented immediately.)
Jose assured that he and his office take note of the students’ concerns and are taking proactive steps to address such. “Binabasa namin ang mga concerns ng mga estudyante. Naka-monitor nga ako sa Facebook eh, ‘yung [DLSU Freedom Wall], para alam namin saan mag-improve.”
(We read the concerns of the students. I actually monitor Facebook and the DLSU Freedom Wall so we know where to improve.)
