Quezon City, Philippines – February 8, 2024 marked a significant milestone for UP the School of Labor and Industrial Relations (UP SOLAIR) as Atty. Karlo Alexi B. Nograles, Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), and Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, President of the University of the Philippines, came together to inaugurate the new West Wing building of UP SOLAIR at UP Diliman.
The ceremony was graced by the esteemed officials from the different UP Constituent Universities: Chancellor Corazon L. Abansi of UP Baguio, Chancellor Jose V. Camacho, Jr. of UP Los Baños, Chancellor Michael L. Tee of UP Manila, Chancellor Lyre Anni E. Murao of UP Mindanao, Chancellor Clement C. Camposano of UP Visayas, together with the Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo D.P. Cubillan. Additionally, officials from UP Diliman were in attendance, including Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jerwin F. Agpaoa (representing UPD Chancellor Edcardo Carlo L. Vistan II), Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel B. Florendo, Office of the Campus Architect Director Ringer B. Manalang, along with Dean Rhea Rowena B. Apolinario of the UP School of Library and Information Science. The event also saw the presence of faculty, graduate students, alumni, and dedicated REPS and administrative staff of UP SOLAIR.
The event commenced with a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Chairperson Nograles, President Jimenez, Dean Melisa R. Serrano of UP SOLAIR, and former dean Dr. Ronahlee A. Asuncion, followed by the unveiling of a commemorative marker. Fr. Bong Tupino III of the Diocese of Cubao then conducted a blessing of classrooms and offices of the five-storey building.
During the formal program held in the mini-auditorium on the fifth level of the West Wing, Dean Serrano expressed her gratitude and shared her vision for SOLAIR’s future within the newly constructed edifice. She also mentioned that the building has already proven beneficial to SOLAIR since the second quarter of 2023.
Dr. Asuncion then offered retrospective insights into the collaborative journey that led to the funding of the new building, tracing back to discussions initiated during Chairperson Nograles’ tenure as Chair of the House Committee on Labor and Employment of the 16th Congress, until funding for the building was granted when he served as a Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations of the 17th Congress. Reflecting also on the pivotal role played by SOLAIR and UP Diliman offices, such as the Office of the Campus Architect and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development, she highlighted the joint efforts that propelled the construction forward.
Emphasizing that the new building is intended to advance education and research in labor and employment relations, Chairperson Nograles discussed that the funding was a significant public investment that will eventually support academic activities in both private and public sectors, and is expected to foster development and innovation in policies, practices, laws and regulations on labor and employment relations. He added that the CSC is looking forward to collaborating closely with UP SOLAIR, particularly in research and continuing education efforts in areas such as labor dispute resolution, empowerment of workforce, and strengthening institutions within government agencies.
President Jimenez echoed sentiments of gratitude, pledging continued support for UP SOLAIR’s academic, research, and extension endeavors. As the ceremony concluded, attendees departed with a sense of optimism, united in their shared vision of leveraging the new facility as a catalyst for innovation and excellence in labor and industrial relations studies.
The new UP SOLAIR West Wing building is located at R.P. de Guzman Street, University of the Philippines Diliman, Brgy. UP Campus, Quezon City.