Executive Brief - PSAU Landholdings

EXECUTIVE BRIEF Pampanga State Agricultural University, the home of the Aglibut Sweet Tamarind, is strategically nestled at the foothills of the western slope of the majestic Mt. Arayat. The university occupies approximately 500 hectares of government agricultural lands in the town of Magalang, province of Pampanga. The university has relevant and customized curricular programs, demand-driven and community-oriented research and development, on-site technology promotion and transfer and inputs production, quality control testing and commercialization. Moreover, the university is composed of six colleges: College of Agricultural Systems and Technology, the College of Engineering and Computer Studies, the College of Veterinary Medicine, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and the College of Hospitality, Entrepreneurship and Food Sciences, which caters 20 undergraduate courses (both agriculture allied and non-allied courses), two-year computer courses, and operates a graduate school for three Masteral and two Doctoral degrees. To maintain quality, the academic programs are accredited by the Accrediting Agency of Chartered Colleges and Universities in the Philippines (AACCUP). Three programs, namely the Biology, Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine programs, are designated as Centers of Development by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). To add, all the academic programs were issued certificates of program compliance by CHED. Alongside this, based on the recent assessment of HEIs (Higher Education Institutions) in the Philippines by CHED, PSAU is included among the Top 20 Level IV accredited SUCs (State Universities and Colleges) out of the 111 institutions that were evaluated.

The university, endowed with both physical and human resources, also utilized external linkages and collaborations as a vital support system to pursue its academic mandate and its position in shaping the community particularly in the agricultural sector. With this, as an agricultural university, alongside the Philippine government, it also aims for sustainable and inclusive development with focus on conservation-oriented and smart farming towards a future-proof and food-secure country. Giving emphasis on the population of the students, it was observed that there is an increase in number of students throughout the years. For the academic year 2020- 2021,the university is expecting a total of 7,000 students. It was projected that the number of students in the year 2043-2044 would be 38,568. With education as the primary mandate of the university along with the increasing number of students, the land of the University plays a very important role in providing quality education for the students from the laboratories, farm demonstrations, practice areas and training grounds for young agriculturists and future leaders of this nation. With the university’s other mandates, the land is also utilized as experimental areas for its researches about new agricultural technologies and practices for better yield and production. Given that every SUC in the country need to be self-sustaining and non- reliant to the national budget alone, the area is also being utilized for income generation. With the foregoing acquisition of land in response to the E.O. 75, impacts not just only for the University but also at the provincial and regional levels are perceived. Listed in the table below are the potential impacts of the acquisition.

Summary of Impacts of the Acquisition of 376 ha of land ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS DESCRIPTION LAND Loss of vegetation Site clearing will be one of the initial activities in and habitat human encroachment. This activity will result in loss of vegetation and habitat that will displace wildlife species. Decline in organic Caused by reduced presence of decaying matter organisms, or increased rate of decay as a resultT changes in natural or anthropogenic factors. Uncontrolled land use Due to human encroachment and expected change increase of population over the years, there will be a rapid land use change in the area. AIR Increase in dust The encroachment of new settlers will lead to generation and increased traffic in the area, which leads to dust deposition disturbances. Increase in ambient There is a potential for noise from the residential noise level activities to cause a noise nuisance especially to the biodiversity in close proximity to the site. WATER Decline in The human encroachment will be the cause of the groundwater quality decline in groundwater quality due to the expected increase of waste generation. Change in The removal of trees and clearing of the vegetation hydrodynamics of the will eventually disrupt the water cycle. watershed PEOPLE Increase in waste The amount of waste produced is influenced by generation economic activity, consumption, and population growth.

Opportunity loss for Loss of field-based experiences, as well as earth education and science researches. research Food security is measured through the availability Lower level of food of food and individuals’ ability to avail it. security Due to the increased presence of informal settlers, Threat in campus security of the campus and surrounding security environment is threatened. Over the generations, Pampanga State Agricultural University, being the sole agricultural state university in the province, has continuously provided service to the general public and national and local governments in terms of instruction, research and extension and production. This will allow the University to continue strengthening its mission to mainstream science and practice of agroecological and industrial technologies through distinctive instruction, impact-driven research, extension, and entrepreneurship uplifting the welfare of people and nature.