THE House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by TINGOG Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, convened on Tuesday to advance long-overdue reforms in the higher education sector. Lawmakers discussed measures to improve student mental health services, raise professional standards in tertiary institutions, and introduce structural upgrades in state universities and colleges to ensure better learning environments and stronger academic support systems.
“Our goal today is to consolidate and advance these measures, and transmit them to the Senate within the first regular session,” Acidre said.
Lawmakers proceeded to consolidate and approve 13 national bills, House Bills 324, 726, 990, 1203, 1256, 1361, 4697, 4949, 5319, 5770, 6063, 6161 and 6360. These measures seek to strengthen mental health services in state universities and colleges. The committee also approved the corresponding committee report, subject to style and amendments.
The panel then took up and approved HB 4959, which seeks to establish the Philippine Professional Standards and Quality Assurance System.
EDCOM II (Second Congressional Commission on Education) Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee presented research findings highlighting serious overlaps in the mandates of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), as well as outdated statutory requirements governing college programs and licensure examinations.
He also stressed that higher education standards remain fragmented because 45 professional laws covering 46 board and college programs contain outdated and conflicting provisions, creating overlapping mandates among CHED, TESDA and the PRC and causing ongoing confusion for institutions, students and industries.
The panel also consolidated and approved HBs 1804 and 2279, aiming to strengthen the Legal Education Board, as well as HBs 3055, 4324 and 5679 seeking to establish the National Center for Cooperative Studies or Development at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
They likewise approved HB 2119, creating the Rodeo Center of Masbate, along with HBs 788, 4488, 4658, 4912, 5102, 5449 and 5458 converting various extension campuses of state universities into regular campuses. The approvals were made subject to amendments aligned with CHED regulations.
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