University flaglets in vibrant blue and gold danced in the morning light, while printed banners transformed the welcome route into a jubilant tribute, heralding President Dr. Elbert M. Galas’ visit to PSU–Infanta Campus as a bearer of good news. Balloons framed the corridor in festivity, and with the hallway alive in celebration, students lined the path to share in a moment of pride for the campus. In another President’s Hour, it became an avenue for shared triumphs—a celebration of milestones reached and an uplifting affirmation of what PSU continues to become.
The session came as PSU continues its transformation journey—from becoming the first SUC to secure ISO 21001:2015 certification in 2024, and gaining international recognition from WURI, THE, AppliedHE, and UI GreenMetric, to recently earning Investors in People Platinum Status.
President Galas set the tone with direct clarity: “We are no longer catching up. We are setting the pace.” He emphasized that institutional confidence is not assumed—it is engineered through systems, standards, and follow-through. “Students must not graduate knowing only theory. They must graduate fluent in practice,” he said, underscoring the push to integrate industry-grade equipment, nanotechnology tools, and international-standard laboratories into daily instruction.
The occasion was further strengthened by the presence of key University officials whose participation emphasized the collective character of the engagement, including Infanta Campus Executive Director Dr. Ramil Dacal, Vice President for Quality Assurance Dr. Celeste T. Mercado, Vice President for Research, Extension and Innovation Dr. Razeale Resultay, alongside other University officials. Their presence signaled that the President’s Hour is a shared institutional dialogue—one carried by leadership across levels and grounded in One PSU’s collective direction.
The event then unfolded into a different kind of dialogue—one where celebration met substance, and students lined up to be heard. Dr. Galas faced the student body directly, responding to campus concerns with concrete action plans on health services, transportation, flood mitigation, and internet infrastructure, turning the gathering into a visible exercise in accountability. What emerged was leadership in conversation with its community, reinforcing that the good news carried into campus was not only about achievements already won, but about commitments actively taking shape.
With SSC President Mr. Rhenz Tejero leading the student questions, the administration delivered documented responses with clear timelines, proving that PSU’s shift from aspiration to execution is real, measurable, and student-driven.
When Mr. Tejero raised four priority concerns—campus health services, inter-campus transportation, flood mitigation, and internet connectivity—the responses were met with concrete and actionable commitments.
On health services, President Galas shared that hiring is underway through Department of Budget and Management plantilla approval for 234 non-teaching positions, including a campus nurse item intended for Infanta Campus. On transportation, he cited the University’s ₱31.6 million from GAA funds which has expanded the fleet to include a main-route bus, a university-wide daily coaster, 4 vans, including 1 dedicated to Infanta, and 2 field-operation pickups. For flood mitigation, engineering teams are already developing formal proposals now under review, while internet infrastructure is undergoing a full-scale overhaul through fiber optic installation, router upgrades, and network modernization. Framing connectivity as a matter of institutional responsibility, he underscored the urgency of the issue, stressing that while internet service in the Philippines is privately managed, inadequate access on campus cannot be justified—turning the dialogue into a clear demonstration that student concerns were not merely acknowledged, but answered with plans already in motion.
With 26,583 students across nine campuses and 1,597 faculty members, PSU’s metric of success is its responsiveness. The transition from uncertainty to structured progress is visible in procurement logs, infrastructure contracts, and accreditation timelines.
This is what institutional trust looks like: documented plans, accountable timelines, and continuous alignment between students, faculty, and administration. The next phase of PSU is being implemented across laboratories, classrooms, and campus networks—one campus, one program, one verified improvement at a time.
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