ILOILO CITY — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos inaugurated the four-story College of Law Building I of West Visayas State University in La Paz district on June 6, 2026. The 3,456-square-meter facility, which cost under ₱800 million, houses six theater-type classrooms, two moot court rooms, a library, and a legal clinic. The First Lady, who served as a professor for 17 of the 25 graduating students, personally championed the project.
The completion of this state-of-the-art academic building sends a clear signal to the property market. New educational infrastructure of this caliber attracts students, faculty, and support services, driving demand for nearby residential and commercial spaces. For La Paz, a district already benefiting from Iloilo City's real estate boom, the COL building adds another anchor institution that will draw hundreds of students and legal professionals annually.
A Catalyst for Neighborhood Growth
The new law building reinforces WVSU's growing reputation for legal excellence. The college achieved a 100 percent passing rate in the 2025 Bar Examinations, making it one of the most attractive law schools in Western Visayas. This prestige will pull in students from across the region, many of whom will seek housing within walking distance of the campus. Rental demand for apartments, dormitories, and condominiums in La Paz is expected to rise.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon, who inspected the facility, emphasized the quality of the construction. "Our students here in WVSU deserve facilities like this. We can do this if money is not stolen," he said. The building's amenities—air-conditioned classrooms, arbitration rooms, conference facilities—make it a potential venue for legal seminars and professional gatherings, further boosting foot traffic and local business activity.
A Second Building and a Growing Educational Hub
A second College of Law building, situated directly behind the newly inaugurated facility, is targeted for completion by late 2026 or early 2027. The twin-building complex will further concentrate legal education in La Paz, cementing the district's identity as an academic hub. Governor Arthur Defensor Jr., Mayor Raisa Treñas, and Vice Mayor Lady Grace Baronda all attended the inauguration, reflecting strong local government support.
President Marcos noted that the national education budget for 2026 has its largest allocation ever, at ₱1.345 trillion. For property investors, such sustained government spending on educational infrastructure signals long-term commitment to the area. The WVSU College of Law complex is not merely a government project—it is a property-value anchor that will shape La Paz's real estate landscape for decades to come.
