UPOU Testing Center in Western Pangasinan

On 18 July 2007, the UPOU opened a testing center in Bani, Pangasinan to serve its distance learners residing in Bani and nearby towns. Its establishment is made possible through a memorandum of agreement signed by Chancellor Grace Javier Alfonso and Mayor Marcelo E. Navarro Jr.

Mayor Marcelo, the newly elected Mayor of Bani, said that his first official act as head of the municipality is to push for the opening of a UPOU Testing Center. Because he wants to give his “constituents in Bani a chance to access quality education that UPOU represents.” He also hopes “that the presence of UPOU will serve as catalyst for the transformation of Bani into a Center of Educational Excellence in Western Pangasinan in the coming years... and that this partnership shall result in the empowerment” of its people to “ live more decent lives.”

Aside from establishing a testing center, Mayor Marcelo said that he will also give scholarship grants to 25 residents of Bani; 15 are for masters degree in education and 10 for other programs. 

The signing of memorandum was held on 18 July 2007 at Valdez Hall, Bahay ng Alumni, UP Diliman, Quezon City. (Luisa A. Gelisan, OC).