New UP campus to rise in Cebu

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DALAGUETE, Cebu — A new beacon of learning is set to rise in the heart of southern Cebu.

The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu will build an extension campus in Barangay Mantalongon, Dalaguete, including what will become the tallest and largest Oblation statue in the entire UP system.

Dalaguete Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante and UP Cebu Chancellor Leo Malagar sealed the partnership on April 3, 2025, by signing a memorandum of agreement.

NEW UP CAMPUS IN THE MAKING Mayor Ronald Allan Cesante (in black jacket) gestures toward the fog-prone mountains of Barangay Mantalongon, where the University of the Philippines Cebu Extension Campus, and what will become the tallest Oblation statue in the UP system, will soon rise. Inset photo shows an architect’s perspective of the new UP campus. PHOTO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES

The Dalaguete local government donated 1.6 hectares of a 13-hectare property near Mantalongon National High School, providing a strategic location for the new campus.

Cesante revealed that an initial P15 million has been allocated for the development, with the Cebu provincial government contributing P8 million.

"We will donate the land and help with the construction of the first building to ensure the campus gets approval from the Board of Regents," said Cesante.

This extension campus is designed to address the challenge of accessing higher education for students in the region who have long been distant from UP Cebu's main campus.

The academic offerings for the first phase will include programs in political science, computer science, and sports studies, with 90 students expected to enroll initially.

"This initiative is about expanding access to quality education," Malagar said. "It's about bringing UP's resources closer to the people of southern Cebu."

In addition to its academic programs, the campus will also be home to a monumental Oblation statue.

The statue, envisioned as a towering symbol of UP's presence in the region, will stand as a beacon for students, educators, and visitors alike.

Malagar likened the statue to Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer, hoping it will become an iconic landmark visible from the skies, welcoming travelers to the region.

"Just like how Christ the Redeemer is iconic to Rio de Janeiro, we want this Oblation to become a defining symbol of our presence in the south," Malagar added.

With plans for further expansions and new academic programs in agriculture and fisheries, the Dalaguete Extension Campus represents a bold step towards increasing educational access and bringing the UP experience to the people of southern Cebu.

Dalaguete town is located 88 kilometers of Cebu City. Meanwhile, Barangay Mantalongon is located 12 kilometers away from the town's highway.