The University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP SURP) welcomed UP officials, representatives from the office of the Ambassador of Germany to the Philippines and UNESCO Philippines to its new building’s soft inauguration and the launching of new books on February 6.
The unveiling of the International Center for Urban and Regional Planning (ICURP) was attended by UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, incoming UP President Danilo M. Concepcion, Vice President for Planning Elvira A. Zamora, UP Diliman Chancellor Michael L. Tan, Office of the Campus Architect Director Enrico B. Tabafunda, other UP officials, as well as other dignitaries.
“The ICURP will serve as UP SURP’s new facility to further its programs as a center for scholarship, technical assistance, and the country’s only graduate institution of its kind. Among ICURP’s features are–a state-of-the-art GIS laboratory; a modern library; the research work of local and international fellows; and a Virtual Reality Innovation and Application Center on Sustainable Urban and Regional Planning, which will encourage collaborative research, training and other programs,” according to UP SURP Dean Mario R. Delos Reyes .
Following the soft inauguration was the launch of UP SURP’s new book collection by UP SURP and UP PLANADES faculty members: Bohol – A Window to the Philippines’ Natural History: Towards Sustainable Island Development by Dean Delos Reyes, Ms. Aguda and Prof emeritus Dr. Hillmer; Property, Patrimony and Territory: Foundations of Land Use Planning in the Philippines by Prof. Serote, a revision/update of the book published in 2009 with the same title; and, Book of Filipino Planners( a coffee table book) by Prof. Magno.
Pascual received the UP Oblation and Plaque of Appreciation from UP SURP, the institution’s tribute to the president in recognition of his support and assistance to the projects of SURP, especially the ICURP.
“These [activities] are a culmination of the steps that the UP SURP has taken over the past six years that have been central to UP’s greatness in the 21st century. As I prepare to wear a different hat in the following days as my term as President comes to an end, I would like to congratulate the UP SURP one last time–led by Dean Mario delos Reyes–for all your notable contributions to knowledge, to our people’s welfare, and to our University’s mission of leadership through service. May these latest programs and projects inspire all of you to continue your Institution’s ascent into global and regional leadership through the pursuit of your fourfold mandate of graduate education, research, training and extension in new and innovative ways. And may a stronger, more energized UP SURP help create–in the words of the urban scholar Jane Jacobs– ‘diverse and intense’ cities and regions ‘that contain the seeds of their own regeneration, with energy enough to carry over for problems and needs outside themselves’.” Pascual said in his message.
Also part of program was the induction ceremony of the new officers of the UPAA SURP Chapter Board of Trustees 2016-2018. (Stephanie S. Cabigao, UP MPRO)
