THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on second reading the measure seeking to elevate the status of the Ilocos Sur Polytechnic College into a university.

House Bill 8188, which is a substitution bill for House Bill 7352 and introduced by Ilocos Sur Rep. Kristine Singson, aims to convert ISPSC into Ilocos Sur Philippines Polytechnic University by integrating the North Luzon Philippines State College (NLPSC).

Singson said that the ISPSC and its campuses, and the NLPSC have undergone several institutional transformation to meet the demands of their communities.

“The socio-economic and agricultural vibrancy can be seen in the transformation of these SUCs — the ISPSC from being a farm school in 1913, and the younger NLPSC which began as community college in 1975, into what they are today,” Singson said.

The ISPSC has campuses all over the second district of Ilocos Sur, with the main campus in Sta. Maria and extension campuses in the city of Candon and the municipalities of Narvacan, Tagudin, Santiago, and Cervantes. The NLPSC, meanwhile, is at the center and the capital of the district in Candon City.

Under the bill, the proposed university shall primarily provide advance education, higher professional and technological instruction, technical and vocational education and training in humanities, engineering, science and technology, agriculture, business and entreprenuership, and other relevant fields of study.

House Bill 8188 also mandates the establishment of research centers.

The university will also offer post-secondary technical-vocational, baccalaureate and graduate programs within its areas of competency and specialization.