Educator, achiever Dr Eufemia Changat Lamen joins her Maker

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- With the demise of Dr. Eufemia Changat Lamen, president of Mountain Province State Polytechnique College (MPSPC) due to a vehicular accident Nov. 30, along the Halsema Highway in Atok, Benguet, she leaves behind a legacy as a dynamic personality who made things happen.

Educator, accountant and achiever Lamen envisioned MPSPC becoming a university in two years by 2016 in response to conditions provided in Republic Act 10583 converting MPSPC into a state university to be known as the Mountain Province State University.

These conditions are doable, Lamen then said during a press conference July this year with Montanosa Press Club, saying operational requirements provided in the law were achievable for said school to become a university two years from now.

Her plans for the school can be done with the assumption of whoever will take over as MPSPC head to steer the school to its university status.

One condition of RA 10583 cited the school should have gained Level 111 accreditation or equivalent under Commission on Higher Education (CHED) policies for at least four of its undergraduate programs, one in liberal arts, and one in the sciences and two of its graduate programs.

Lamen in an earlier interview said one prioritized course is on agriculture and a liberal arts program. Currently there are two major bachelor programs of MPSPC- College of Arts and Sciences in the main Bontoc campus and the College of Engineering and Technology and Forestry at the Tadian Campus.

Also, adequate library and laboratories are a requirement with a P7 million support fund from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) this year.  Lamen said the necessary facilities such as books and laboratory equipment shall be purchased as soon as possible.

Lam-en joined MPSPC in 1980 until she became college dean and resigned in 2007 when she joined and overwhelmingly won in the political race for the Provincial Board for District 1 of Mt. Province in the 2007 local and national elections.

She was the first woman legislator of the  SangguniangPanlalawigan for District 1 of Mountain Province.

She was secretary to the Provincial Board in 2010 until she resigned March 2013 and registered her interest to file her application as president of MPSPC.

She won eight votes of confidence of 12 members of the MPSPC Board of Trustees over two other contenders to the position- Dr Zacarias Baluscang, former president of Apayao State College, and Dr. Joel Depalog, dean of the Education department of MPSPC.

She took her oath of office as president of the institution in turnover ceremonies March 20 this year following the Board of Trustees March 18 elections and in simple ceremonies held at the college library, Lam-en accepted the school leadership from acting president Dr. Geraldine Madjaco  with the presence of Mountain Province Gov. Leonard Mayaen, Bontoc elder and provincial legislator Alfonso Kiatong and faculty, staff and students of MPSPC.

In said ceremony, Lam-en said her priority projects included furnishing of the library with additional and necessary books and purchase of needed laboratory equipment. 

Lack of books and laboratory equipment were major complaints of students.

The former college dean and MPSPC head also said there is a need for an “honest to goodness faculty development plan.”

There are some 200 faculty members of the college teaching some 5,000 students yearly enrolled in two campuses - the main campus in Bontoc and the Tadian site.

Lamen said research and extension was a priority program to slice 15 percent of the P100 million plus budget of the school.     

She assigned Depalog as Vice President for  Research, an appointment she sees as one fitting for the job and the challenges that the school faces.

Depalog unfortunately met an untimely death in a vehicular accident August this year.

Research and development output of practical application to the community is specially cited as a condition in MPSPC becoming a university. 

In an interview with Lamen she said a review of the researches already done for application was most needed.

A consistent honor student, Eufemia Changat Lamen graduated in elementary grades of Easter school as valedictorian in 1969 and valedictorian in Easter High School in 1973. 

She graduated cum laude in her degree Bachelor of Science in Commerce major in Accountancy at the University of Baguio in 1977.

She passed the Accountancy board exams in 1979 and won Gawad Pitak Award for Most Outstanding Coop Auditor nationwide in 1997. 

She was the coop auditor in 1984 and member of the Board of Directors of All Saints Credit Cooperative from 1984-1988. She served as bookkeeper of the Rural Bank of Bontoc from 1997 to 1979 after her graduation in college.

She was married to Alfredo ‘Binky’ Lam-en Jr former vice governor Mountain Province, and blessed with six children.

Lam-en turned 57 May 26 this year and died Dec. 1 while being treated at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, following the accident, Cordillera police said.

Passenger Bernabe Ngipol Lablabong from Purok 3, San Dionisio in Nagtipunan, Quirino Province earlier died at another hospital.

The ill-fated van with plate number AYG 645, driven by Jimmy Babanga,  reportedly plunged into a 50-meter ravine in km 58, Calasipan, Cattubo, Atok.

Babanga told policemen that he dozed off while driving.

Homicide and multiple physical injuries are awaiting Babanga, authorities added.

SPO3 Rolex Sabyat, 40; TinoNgosi, 45; Melvin Danilo, 15; Victoria Licwasen, 33; Bernadette Dinisia, 32; Elena Salipen, 65; Jake Bantasan, 29; Tito Ingosan, 57; Rachel Bacte, 16; Ben Bayas, 17; Dona Jane Dinisia, 1; Marietta Pagnas, 51; Charlene Calabson, a certain female only named as Taro; were all rushed to the hospital for their head and body injuries.

Pagnas, Cordillera police spokesman Supt. Davy Limmong said, was still recovering at the Pines City Doctors Hospital in Baguio City, while the other victims, except the driver,  have been sent home.

It was not known if the van's owner will also be charged over the mishap.