MANILA Mayor Honey Lacuna assured the public that the Universidad de Manila in Tondo will continue to provide quality tertiary education to poor but deserving students.

The Mayor led the groundbreaking of a new annex for UdM, a 10-story campus in Vitas, Tondo. The city government aims to complete the construction of the 1,500-square-meter annex building by 2026, with a total cost of PHP400 million.

Lacuna said the new UdM campus would allow more students, especially from Tondo, to avail themselves of the city’s free college education with monthly allowances.

The Vitas campus will include 48 classrooms, 15 multi-function rooms, and a multipurpose gymnasium.

Lacuna expressed her gratitude to 2nd District Rep. Rolan Valeriano for allocating funds for the project, even though it falls outside his district.

“I learned that I can ask a friend for funds, a friend who is concerned not only about his district but for the whole Manila as well. Hindi ako nahihiyang lumapit sa mga kaibigan na alam kong maaasahan pagdating sa pagtulong sa ating lungsod,” she added.

Lacuna, citing data from UdM president Dr. Felma Carlos-Tria, said the project would benefit the majority of the university’s students, who are residents of Tondo.