University of the Philippines
Diliman

University of the Philippines
Diliman

Academe

New SOLAIR building inaugurated

Bino C. Gamba - Diliman Information Office
February 14, 2024 | UPDate Online > Academe
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The UP Diliman School of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (SOLAIR) inauguration of its West Wing Building on Feb. 8 was well-attended by University officials, led by no less than UP President Angelo A. Jimenez.

The 5-story structure with roof deck has a total floor area of 1,986.35 sq. m. West Wing Building’s first and second floors serve as faculty rooms, the third and fourth floors as classrooms and offices of SOLAIR’s three centers, and the entire fifth floor as mini hall for training and seminars.

West Wing Building. Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UPDIO

SOLAIR Dean Melisa R. Serrano said the building came at the perfect time since their internationalization initiatives went into full swing last year. In fact, the mini hall was the venue for the residential / in-person phase of the 2023 ENGAGE-Asia Programme, an international training course for young trade union leaders and labor activists in Asia.

“This new infrastructure supports our teaching, research, and extension activities which are all aligned to our school’s vision of maintaining itself as the country’s premier educational institution in the field of industrial relations and human resource development,” Serrano said.

The West Wing Building’s construction started in 2018 during the term of then SOLAIR dean Ronahlee A. Asuncion. Asuncion mentioned that it was largely through the support of Karlo Alexei B. Nograles that the West Wing Building was realized.

(From left) Nograles, Serrano, Asuncion, and Jimenez (first row); Tee, Camposano, Murao, and Abansi (second row); Lara, Cubillan, Alcantara, and Agpaoa (fourth row). Photo by Jefferson Villacruz, UPDIO

In 2017, Nograles was SOLAIR’s recognition rites speaker. It was at that time that Asuncion approached him to support the school’s plan for a new building. He readily agreed and pledged his support. Nograles, the chair of the Civil Service Commission since 2022, was at that time representative of the first district of Davao City and chair of the House of Committee on Appropriations in the 17th Congress of the Philippines.

Also present at the inauguration were UP Executive Vice President Jose Fernando T. Alcantara, UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Leo D.P. Cubillan, UP Secretary Roberto M.J. Lara, UP Manila Chancellor Michael L. Tee, UP Visayas Chancellor Clement C. Camposano, UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Annie E. Murao, UP Baguio Chancellor Corazon L. Abansi, and UPD Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jerwin F. Agpaoa, representing UPD Chancellor Edgardo Carlo L. Vistan II.