TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay โ The recent elections in this small farming town carried consequences far beyond politics: they determined the fate of a local college campus.
For many residents, a win by mayoralty candidate Lalay Climaco, daughter of outgoing mayor Carlnan Climaco, would have meant the eventual shutdown of the Western Mindanao State University External Studies Unit (WMSU-ESU) in Tungawan.
โIt was a blessing,โ said Nosca Ronna Taasin, school administrator of the Tungawan ESU. โThe elections were pivotal for us.โ
A cold shoulder from the old guard
On his last term as mayor, Carlnan Climaco had grown indifferent to the townโs ESU. His disengagement became clear in 2018, when the schoolโs administration was returned to WMSUโs main campus following the implementation of the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).
Under UniFAST, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) rolled out the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program, which provides grants to students from households earning less than โฑ300,000 a year.
With national subsidies in place and the school administration under WMSU’s main campus, Climaco no longer saw the need for local government support.
The rift widened when Climaco questioned why some students he endorsed were not admitted.
A faculty member said the former mayor was either ill-advised or misunderstood the process of students’ admission. Climaco, she said, must understand that applicants must first pass a College Entrance Testโespecially for courses requiring licensure exams.
But the incident soured relations, and local support for the ESU dwindled.
A lifeline in Aniรฑonโs victory
The election of Mayor Angelito Aniรฑon turned the tide. Known for his humble beginnings, Aniรฑon assured the people that education is one of his top priorities.
โI am all-out in supporting education, especially tertiary education through the WMSU-ESU,โ he told Daily Sun Chronicle.
For many Tungaweรฑosโone in four families in Zamboanga Peninsula live below the poverty line, according to 2023 PSA dataโthe presence of a local college means access to higher education without the crushing costs of studying outside town.
โTo have a college institution in the town means a lot,โ Aniรฑon said.
Fresh paint, fresh start
Barely 100 days into his term, Aniรฑon ensured that WMSU had unimpeded use of the old municipal hall, which now serves as the school campus. The building, once dilapidated, has been spruced up under his watch.
โGuba man ang building before, but now there is an improvement,โ said Michael, a graduating student.
For administrator Taasin, the facelift is more than cosmetic.
โWe consider the fresh new look of our school building as the start of a bright future for the ESU,โ she said.
In Tungawan, the new mayorโs victory was not just a political shiftโit was a lifeline for hundreds of young people hoping to break free from poverty through education. (Antonio Manaytay)
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