Another lawmaker on Tuesday lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for signing laws that would strengthen the charter and expand the course offerings in four state-run higher educational institutions.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva was referring to Republic Act (RA) 11980 or the Revised Bulacan State University (BulSU) Charter; RA 11978 or the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU)-South La Union Campus-College of Medicine; RA 11977 or the Establishment of the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) – Floridablanca Campus; and RA 11979 that converts the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Parañaque City into a regular campus.

Villanueva said the four laws will usher in a new era of quality education in the institutions and will open opportunities to residents to be more productive citizens.

“We thank President Bongbong Marcos for signing these measures that will uplift the quality of education in the country and bring it in line with global standards,” he said in a news release.

“We are optimistic that with the revised charter of the state universities, we can improve outcomes and advance educational opportunities for our learners,” he added.

On Monday, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero thanked President Marcos for his “expeditious action” on the four bills that will boost the country’s education sector.

RA 11980 mandates BulSU to expand its curricular offerings, develop more competencies, and encourage the specialization of its constituent units and will also expand the composition and powers of the school governing board to make them more responsive to the changing needs of the academic landscape.

It will also offer undergraduate and graduate courses, advanced professional and technical instruction, and training within its areas of specialization in the fields of environment and natural sciences, accountancy, commerce, business and public administration, agriculture, education, fisheries, forestry, engineering and technology, arts and sciences, law, medicine, and allied medicine.

Under BulSU’s new charter, the university may open new branches or extension campuses in consortium with other schools to make quality education more accessible.

Under RA 11978, the DMMMSU is now allowed to establish a College of Medicine at the university’s La Union campus in the municipality of Agoo. It will primarily offer a Doctor of Medicine program, including an Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine Program.

The program will consist of basic science and clinical courses using a learner-centered, competency-based, and community-oriented approach to develop “a corps of professional physicians to strengthen the healthcare system of the country.”

RA 11977 established the PSAU campus in the town of Floridablanca, with a mandate to offer short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses.

RA 11979 converted the PUP campus in Parañaque City into a regular campus that will offer short-term, technical-vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses within its areas of competency and specialization.

“We hope that by strengthening these state universities, we can equip our graduates with the right tools and build their confidence to face the world of work, secure employment, and prepare them for lifelong learning,” Villanueva, co-sponsor of Ras 11978 and 11980, said. (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/pcogovph