Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) president Virgilio Julius Manzano Jr. and Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito lead a site inspection of the proposed site of MMSU-Pagudpud campus on Tuesday (April 29, 2025). The area covers a 54-hectare government lot. (Photo courtesy of MMSU)
LAOAG CITY – Officials of state-run Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) and the local government unit of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte are considering a 54-hectare lot located in the coastal villages of Caunayan and Balaoi as a possible site for a new campus.
If plans push through, the Pagudpud campus will become the sixth MMSU campus after the ones in the cities of Batac and Laoag and in the nearby towns of Paoay, Dingras, and Currimao.
“By establishing a campus in Pagudpud, we provide students with an opportunity to continue their studies without the significant costs and hardships of living far from home,” MMSU president Virgilio Julius Manzano Jr. said in a statement Wednesday.
Manzano could have been referring to Catherine Valenzuela, a resident of Pagudpud whose parents have to shell out more to provide her transport and living allowance when she took her Bachelor of Science in Development Communication course in MMSU’s Batac campus.
“I hope the Pagudpud campus of my beloved alma mater will be established soonest,” Valenzuela said as she shared her excitement on Facebook on Wednesday.
Based on university records, MMSU serves 580 students from Pagudpud, 370 from Bangui, 210 from Burgos, 655 from neighboring municipalities in Cagayan, and 286 from the province of Apayao.
Manzano said bringing MMSU closer to students will give the learners greater chance to finish college education.
For his part, Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito said the establishment of a new campus in his hometown will not only provide students a better access to education but also open more opportunities for tourism and infrastructure development.
Based on the project proposal, the campus is expected to offer a range of programs, including Bachelor of Science degrees in Information Technology, Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Forestry, Electrical Engineering, Agriculture, Marine Biology, and Fisheries. (PNA)
