Senate eyes moving to UP Diliman campus

MANILA, Philippines—A plan to look into the possibility of relocating the Senate to the sprawling University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City, is drawing mixed reactions.
A UP administration official said the UP would be “open to the proposal,” adding that it might bring in much needed revenues to the struggling State University.
On the other hand, student regent Cleve Arguelles was not keen on the idea, saying it might bring stricter security measures, which may stifle campus freedom.
Sen. Franklin Drilon announced on Friday that the Senate was looking for a new and more permanent home, and the 492-hectare UP-Diliman campus was at the top of the list.
Drilon said the senators found their P110-million rent of the Government Service Insurance System building in Pasay City “impractical” and have formed a committee to look for alternative sites.
Other sites
Other sites being considered are the Film Center of the Philippines and the Post Office building in Manila. Another suggestion is to join the Lower House in the Batasang Pambansa complex, also in Quezon City. Drilon said the Senate could also purchase land and construct its own building.
The UP campus already hosts some government agencies like the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The UP campus is government property. Under the UP Charter, it cannot be sold but it can be leased.
The university’s vice president for public affairs, Prospero de Vera, said the UP would be “open to the proposal” to lease land to the Senate.
“The terms must of course be favorable to UP and support the mandate of UP under RA 9500 (the UP Charter). As the Senate will still evaluate all its options, the parameters and terms will be formulated and negotiated once UP is selected by the Senate as the best place for its relocation,” the official said in a text message.
“The proposed transfer of the Senate to UP will bring our policy makers, many of them UP alumni, closer not only to their counterparts in the House of Representatives but also to UP’s specialized institutes and experts, increase our involvement in policy making and highlight our public service role as the national university. It will also help the modernization of UP properties and bring much needed additional revenues to UP,” de Vera added.
But the student regent said the presence of the Senate could mean stricter security measures which may result in stifling certain academic freedoms and other liberties.
More security in a campus known for student activism may not be the right mix,
Arguelles said.
“We might end up feeling like visitors in our own campus when in fact it is our university,” he said in a phone interview.
Arguelles also hit the legislative branch for giving state-run schools meager budgets, adding: “And they have the gall to move here?”
But should the Senate push through with its plan, Arguelles said he will hold consultations with the student body before the matter is decided upon by the Board of Regents, UP’s highest decision making body.
Unified Congress
Meanwhile, members of the House of Representatives have offered the Batasan complex in Quezon City as the site of a “unified Congress.”
Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon said that it was about time that the two chambers of Congress work together in one place to further enhance their working relationship.
“I think the Senate deserves to have a place it could call its own for respectability. I don’t think any other Senate is renting aside from ours,” said Biazon, a former senator, in a phone interview.
Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino said: “Having the Senate and Congress in one place is the most ideal situation. If there is room in the Batasan complex, we can accommodate them. If not, then they should put up a building in one of the government lots in near Batasan.”

Some of the good resorts in Pampanga offer good alternatives to hotel function rooms for seminars, corporate planning and meetings. More and more, Manila event planners prefer to hold planning sessions and meeting out of town in the north where participants can relax and unwind in outdoor facilities of some of the good resorts outside Manila. This way, the meetings can be much more productive as participants get a chance to enjoy the lake, beach and good picnic spots in a good resort in Clark Pampanga between seminars, planning sessions and meetings. Clearwater Resort is generally recognized by event planners as the best event venue in Clark Pampanga. Clearwater appears frequently on the top of a list of the best hotels in Pampanga. Visitors to Clark and Angeles City Pampanga seldom pass up the opportunity to relax and unwind by the lake of this popular resort in Pampanga.

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Clearwater Resort and Country Club, Clark Pampanga
Creekside Road near Centennial Expo,
Clark Freeport, Pampanga Philippines 2023
(045) 889-5151 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177
Joanne or Jeremy or Loydha

Getting to this lake and beach resort in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Philippines

After entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway MA Roxas, passing the stand-along wine shop called Clark Wine Center on the right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, one will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on the right just 200m down.

Family Bonding by the famous lake of Clark Pampanga

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Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

Email: Inquiry@ClearwaterPhilippines.com

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Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.
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http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

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http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

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Hot Line for what’s happening in Clark: 045 889-5151 or 0927-940-2669 ask for Loydha

0915-542-6250 (Jeramie)