THE House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go convened on Monday to deliberate on House measures seeking to enhance access to higher education through the establishment of satellite and regular campuses of state universities across the provinces.
One of the bills approved at the committee level was House Bill (HB) 8404, authored by La Union Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega V, which would establish the open university of the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU) in San Fernando, La Union.
According to DMMMSU President Dr. Jaime Manuel Jr., the creation of the open university system would provide Filipinos, both domestically and abroad, with expanded avenues for obtaining quality education.
“If the proposal of our good congressman is approved, we plan to increase our current seven (7) programs to twelve (12) by 2026 or 2027, provided we receive the necessary funding.”
Both Go and Ortega urged Manuel to review and develop unique and relevant programs to their communities, rather than duplicating courses already offered by other state universities and colleges (SUCs) outside La Union.
Other measures approved were 1) HB 9993, seeking to strengthen the Central Luzon State University, filed by Nueva Ecija Rep. Joseph Gilbert Violago; 2) HB 9967, seeking to establish the Cebu Technological University regular campus authored by Cebu Rep. Rhea Mae Gullas; 3) HB 9840, seeking to establish Benguet State University (BSU) satellite campus in Kapangan, Benguet, authored by Benguet Rep. Eric Go Yap; 4) HB 10240, seeking to establish a regular campus of the North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Ty Pimentel; and 5) HB 10050, seeking to establish a regular campus of the Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU) in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, by Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Adrian Michael Amatong.
Also tackled were HB 10187, seeking to convert the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) campus in General Luna, Quezon into a regular campus, authored by Deputy Speaker David Suarez; 7) HB 10470, seeking to establish a regular campus of the Catanduanes State University (CATSU) in Pandan, Catanduanes; and 8) HB 10471 seeking to convert the Panganiban satellite campus of CATSU into a regular campus. The last two bills were filed by Catanduanes Rep. Eulogio Rodriguez.
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