UP Diliman Food Hub opens

| Written by Jo. Florendo B. Lontoc

“Gyud Food,” the UP Diliman Food Hub, opens its doors to the UP community. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO).

 

A new food center in Diliman, Quezon City, is open to the public.

The UP Diliman Food Hub, with a landmark two-story multipurpose hall located along E. Jacinto St. near University Avenue and across the College of Fine Arts, was inaugurated on December 21, 2022, already with several concessionaires offering a wide enough array of food choices.

University officials announced that food would be discounted for UP students, faculty members, administration staff, and researchers, ranging from 5% to 15%, with payment transactions facilitated by their Paymaya-enabled IDs.

Two stories of delicious, healthy, and affordable food options. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO).

 

The UP Food Hub was also designed to become a congregation and activity area, with food courts located indoors and al fresco under the shade of trees. According to the project brief: “The Site Development of the UPD Food Park is meant to aptly handle vehicular parking needs that otherwise will be overflowing towards E. Jacinto St.”

Leading the inauguration and unveiling of the marker were UP President Danilo Concepcion, Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil Sonido, Benedict Diamat,  Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Quezon City Second District Construction Chief, representing District Engineer Ramon Devanadera, and master lessee Jose Vizco.

UP President Danilo Concepcion (3rd from right) and UP Diliman Chancellor Fidel Nemenzo (3rd from left), together with (from left to right) UPD Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Raquel Florendo, Potato Corner CEO and UPD Food Hub lessee Mr. Joe Magsaysay, UP Vice President for Development Elvira Zamora, and UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Louise Jashil Sonido, cut the ribbon to open the UP Food Hub formally. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO).

 

Concepcion especially thanked the DPWH, then headed by Secretary Mark Villar, for allocating the budget for and constructing the complex. He emphasized that the core idea behind the project was “ginhawa” or convenience, wider choices, and discounts for UP students.

“This food hub will offer our growing community a wider range of food choices,” affirmed Nemenzo. “This is a signal that UP Diliman is again opening up [to the public],” he added, referring to the restrictions imposed in the wake of the pandemic. Sonido expressed the hope that the venue would also be a model for environmental sustainability in line with a campus-wide goal.

Al fresco dining at the UP Food Hub. Photo by Misael Bacani (UP MPRO).