Cebu Industrial Park Developers, Inc. (CIPDI) and Tsuneishi Heavy Industries’ (THI) new campus, which is being operated in partnership with University of San Jose Recoletos’ (USJR), will have its blessing and inauguration in Arpili, Balamban today June 22. Around 250 guests composed of Aboitiz Group, CIPDI and THI representatives, USJ-R Board of Trustees, Department of Education Culture and Services officials and Local Government Unit officials will attend the event.

The campus’ construction was made possible through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that CIPDI President Andoni Aboitiz, former Tsuneishi Heavy Industries (THI) Chairman of the Board Kenji Kawano and University of San Jose-Recoletos Chairman of the Board of Trustees Rev. Fr. Lauro V, Larlar, OAR signed last July 2008. Balamban Municipal Mayor Hon. Alex Binghay and Arpili Barangay Captain Primo Paulin witnessed the occasion, which was held at the THI Hotel.

Under the MOU, CIPDI and THI agreed to build a school that would provide accessible and affordable education to their respective employees, their employee’s immediate families and Balamban residents. USJR would establish, operate and maintain the educational institution. CIPDI offered a parcel of land where the school would be located, while THI offered to construct the buildings and facilities.  

Site development and building construction started in September 2008 and these were completed in May 2009, just in time for the 2009 to 2010 school year opening. On its first year of operations, Grades I to V in the Elementary Level and First and Second Year for the Secondary Level are now available for interested enrollees. The growing student population is currently composed of over 300 pupils. Construction work for other buildings would continue until Phase 1 of the project is finished.