Rebuilding Updates
(Part 2 of 2)
Appointment of Rebuilding Assistant
To assist him in undertaking the challenging tasks ahead, Fr President Karel San Juan, SJ, appointed director of CITS Engr. Eugene Kanindot as Assistant for Rebuilding, effective 8 August 2016.
Engr Kanindot will assist the President in planning, managing, and supervising activities related to the rebuilding of facilities affected by the fire; coordinating the support of donors and friends including donations, fund-raising events, services, information, and materials; and providing information to the public on updates and progress on the rebuilding process.
To date, the University is in the process of planning the construction of buildings to replace the Brebeuf Gymnasium that was razed to the ground and the structurally compromised Sauras Hall.
The Big Rebuild
Talks and bold ideas loomed in the boardroom of a plan to re-build – new buildings to replace what was lost in the fire and to address pressing needs in facilities. With an estimated cost of loss and damages at 100M and a corresponding multi-million worth rebuilding project, and in between, an insurance claim still to be determined, expected to cover only partially the entire project, there is still much to be done especially in terms of raising the much needed funds. “Raising funds for these is a priority of the University,” said Fr President.
The need for facilities such as classrooms, however, has been a perennial problem, but this became even more pronounced after the fire. Add to this is the advent of the SHS in the La Purisima campus. More classrooms and laboratories are needed more than ever, among other facilities.
Envisioned is a new building for classrooms and offices and a multi-level multi-purpose complex building that will be the new home of a sports gym, an auditorium-cum-conference hall, a cafeteria, a parking area, and rooms for seminars and meetings.
Another Big Plan is to explore business potentials to capitalize on the University’s prime location at the heart of the city.
The Challenge Ahead
For the plan for a new building, Fr President said
that the University will have to undertake a major fund raising campaign. “This
is one of the challenging tasks ahead,” he said.
“The task of rebuilding has renewed the University’s commitment to its mission of education and social transformation.”
