THE SENATE on Monday approved on third and final reading seven bills that seek to rename some State Universities and Colleges as well as convert state colleges into state universities.

Senator Joel Villanueva, chairman of the Committee on Higher and Technical-Vocational Education, expressed his gratitude to the body for the swift passage of the bills.

“The passage on third reading of these local bills renaming our SUCs and converting colleges into state universities in the middle of the pandemic is timely, relevant and also uplifting to the communities who will stand to benefit from these developments. This is definitely a good news for our people in Abra Agusan del Sur, Basilan, Camarines Sur, Davao de Oro, Occidental Mindoro, and Surigao del Sur,” Villanueva said.

Adopted were House Bill 6596 that seeks to rename the Compostela Valley State College into the Davao De Oro State College; House Bill 6842 that will rename the Surigao Del Sur State University to North Eastern Mindanao State University; House Bill 6858 that will convert the Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology into a state university to be known as the Southeast Asian University of Technology; House Bill 7030 that will convert the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology in Lagangilang and Bangued into a state university to be known as the University of Abra; House Bill 7019  that will convert the Agusan Del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology into a state university to be known as the Agusan Del Sur State University; House Bill 7566 that will convert the Occidental Mindoro State College into a state university to be known as the Occidental Mindoro State University and House Bill 7697 that will convert the Basilan State College in Isabela into a state university to be known as the Basilan State University.

“Converting these State Colleges into State Universities will empower them to expand curricular offerings to include medical and allied courses in line with the implementation of the ‘Doktor Para sa Bayan Act’ as well as programs in response to the present public health emergencies, as well as many other essential economic and national growth and development areas of concern,” Villanueva said.