SWU-Phinma invests P220 million on dentistry facility
CEBU, Philippines — Phinma-led Southwestern University (SWU) is investing some P220 million to build a dentistry building, as it continues to see a potential growth in the dental industry.
The Cebu City-based school is starting the construction of the 7-storey College of Dentistry facility this month and targets to complete it by April 2020.
SWU chief operations officer Albert Gamboa yesterday said once the new building is completed, the school is targeting to increase its dentistry student population by 10-20 percent.
Currently, SWU has more than 800 students -- about 270 of them are freshmen – enrolled in the dentistry program.
Gamboa said the school is making a focus investment into dentistry, being among its key degree programs.
The facility will have pre-clinical and clinical areas, administrative offices, faculty area, conference area, discussion rooms and rest areas for clinicians and students.
Eight clinics are planned, with a reception room for incoming patients, including three simulation rooms where the students can practice using their instruments before working on real patients.
The facility, called the SWU Villa, will also have a ceramic dental laboratory, complete denture room, an autoclave room, a roentgenology laboratory, x-ray room and a central stockroom to serve the laboratories and clinics.
“The number of dentistry students enrolling is growing every year, and with the SWU Villa, the university will be able to accommodate more,” said Gatieh Nacario, vice president for academics.
Gamboa also said the rising importance of oral health has also boosted interest among young people to take up dentistry.
“In recent years, we also see the hype in cosmetic surgery. We’re getting the importance of oral hygiene,” he told The FREEMAN in an interview.
He added there are also limited schools in the country offering dentistry.
He believes the dental healthcare sector has so much potential for growth, citing the country’s strength in the quality of its healthcare workforce.
“Our strength is how we do healthcare and the compassion of Filipinos in dealing with patients,” he said.
SWU is controlled by listed holding firm Phinma Corp., which has various interests in education, steel products, housing, business process outsourcing and energy sectors.
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