On August 14, 2025, the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) Faculty Union team, led by Faculty Union President and Regent Dr. Adrian P. Semorlan, along with Board of Director Member and Adviser Dr. Bernard Q. Suriaga and Secretary Dr. Saniya G. Abirin, paid a courtesy visit to the City Engineer’s Office headed by Engr. Christopher Q. Navarro. The meeting focused on the union’s major initiative: the creation of a state-of-the-art training center at the WMSU San Ramon campus.
Anchored on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, the proposed facility aims to benefit not only the WMSU community but the entire City of Zamboanga. Once realized, it could become the largest government-owned training center in the city, a significant step forward in enhancing local training and development infrastructure.
The union also emphasized that this initiative underscores SDG No. 17 – Partnership for the Goals, as it will be implemented through close collaboration between WMSU and the Zamboanga City Local Government Unit (LGU), creating lasting, positive change in the community.
In line with this partnership-building, the union team also visited the Office of the City Administrator and Executive Secretary, Hon. Celso L. Lobregat, to discuss the project further and extend their appreciation for the LGU’s unwavering support for WMSU. Dr. Semorlan personally thanked Hon. Lobregat for his invaluable contributions as a member of the WMSU Board of Regents, noting the significant impact his presence and support have had on the university.
Later that afternoon, the union team, together with several WMSU faculty members, met with Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) officials, headed by Congressman Rolando L. Macasaet together with GSIS Zamboanga City Branch Manager and staff, to discuss the Multipurpose Loan Max (MPL Max) program. During the dialogue, Cong. Macasaet addressed faculty concerns regarding policies that have prevented many qualified members from availing of the program despite meeting the required net take-home pay. He assured the group that GSIS will seek a win-win solution by carefully balancing the program’s benefits and risks.
Capping off the day, Dr. Semorlan and the team visited WMSU President Dr. Ma. Carla A. Ochotorena to express their gratitude for her steadfast support to the Faculty Union. Dr. Semorlan reaffirmed the union’s commitment to stand behind the administration in its mission to propel WMSU to greater heights, particularly in realizing its vision of becoming a Smart Research University. This milestone would mark one of the most innovative developments in the city’s academic landscape. (Saniya Abirin)
