Senator Cynthia Villar on Monday urged graduates of the only state university in Antique to help in the development of their communities after completing their formal education and becoming successful in the future.

“I urge graduates, as part of their responsibility when they become successful in the future, to help develop their communities,” said Villar, who was invited as the commencement speaker during the graduation ceremonies of the University of Antique (UA) at the main campus in the municipality of Sibalom.

The senator, in a press conference held before the commencement exercises, said graduates have to look back and extend their help as the national government through its various agencies had poured in millions of pesos to enable students to receive scholarships to finish their schooling.

Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, also emphasized the importance of farm schools in Antique since some students prefer to take up agriculture courses.

Villar said students who attend farm schools could even prosper more due to lots of opportunities such as tourism farming they could engage in.

Meanwhile, UA President Pablo Crespo Jr. said in a separate interview, the commencement was the biggest with 1,300 graduates from the College of Teachers Education, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Technology and College of Engineering and Architecture.

“The entire graduating students of UA is 4,000,” he said.

Crespo added that UA has a total of 78 programs being offered and so they have to hold separate graduation ceremonies for the school year 2022-2023. (PNA)