A NEWLY filed bill in the House of Representatives seeks to strengthen the College of Law of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) and expand access to quality legal education, particularly for aspiring lawyers from underserved communities.
Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan jointly filed House Bill No. 7578, which seeks to provide comprehensive institutional and academic support to the ESSU College of Law based in Borongan City.
The bill includes the creation of regular faculty positions, the upgrading of facilities and learning resources, and the provision of sustained funding to ensure compliance with standards set by regulatory bodies.
“The strengthening of ESSU’s College of Law is an investment in our people and our future. We need more lawyers who are not only competent and ethical, but also deeply committed to serving marginalized and underserved communities,” Gonzales said.
“We must continue to nurture future lawyers who will not only excel in the profession but also use their knowledge and skills to defend the voiceless, uphold justice, and contribute meaningfully to governance and nation-building,” Gonzales added.
In January, the ESSU College of Law celebrated a milestone as 14 of its graduates successfully passed the 2025 Bar Examinations—an achievement that underscores the university’s growing role in producing lawyers of national caliber.
“ESSU has shown that quality legal education can thrive outside major urban centers. By strengthening its College of Law, we are ensuring that more students from Eastern Samar and nearby provinces can pursue legal education without having to leave their communities,” Gonzales said.
The bill also seeks to address structural challenges currently faced by the College of Law, including the absence of permanent faculty positions, the lack of a duly appointed dean, and limited budgetary support—constraints that have affected academic planning and long-term development.
Under the bill, ESSU will be authorized to establish regular plantilla positions for qualified law professors, support faculty development, and upgrade classrooms, libraries, and research facilities with modern technologies and updated legal resources.
The bill also promotes the expansion of clinical legal education and legal aid programs, reinforcing the role of future lawyers in providing assistance to disadvantaged sectors and improving access to justice in Eastern Samar and nearby areas.
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