Universidad de Manila annex building to rise in Tondo

MANILA, Philippines – An extension campus of Universidad de Manila (UDM), a public university, will soon rise in Barangay 101, Tondo. 

The P400-million government project, which is expected to be completed by 2026, will feature a 10-story building comprising 48 classrooms, 15 multifunction rooms, and a multipurpose gymnasium.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna, Vice Mayor Yul Servo, and Manila 2nd District Representative Rolando Valeriano led the groundbreaking ceremony of the annex building on Thursday, October 17. 

The new campus will occupy a 1,500-square-meter site that was previously Vitas Skate Park, which underwent renovations during the term of Lacuna’s predecessor, Isko Moreno.

Valeriano deemed the project a “historic milestone for Tondo, Congress, and the City of Manila because it is the first university campus in Tondo.”

In a press release, Lacuna criticized Moreno for the P17.8-billion debt incurred to fund his infrastructure projects, which she described as an “edifice complex.” Lacuna said that they were built to support Moreno’s failed presidential campaign in 2022.

Lacuna, however, was Isko’s vice mayor and ally when these infrastructure projects were approved and built. 

For the 2025 elections, Moreno and Lacuna will be fighting over Manila’s mayoral seat. Servo and Valeriano are also seeking reelection.

Currently, UDM’s main campus in Ermita serves 10,490 students with only 37 classrooms, forcing them to have multiple shifts of classes from early morning until night, University president Ma. Felma Carlos-Tria said. 

The annex building will make the university more accessible to the students in Tondo, where most UDM students reside.

District 1 or Tondo 1 (North Harbor), contributes 27% (or 2,842 students) to UDM’s total student population, while District 2 or Tondo 2 (Gagalangin) makes up 17% (or 1,831 students). – Rappler.com