THE HOUSE Committee on Higher and Technical Education has approved a substitute bill that seeks to strengthen the Mindanao State University System.

In a virtual hearing, the committee chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go agreed to endorse for plenary discussions a bill substitute to House Bill 2737 authored by Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez and House Bill 3237 by Lanao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Abdullah Dimaporo and Lanao del Norte 1st District Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo.

In the substitute bill, the MSU will be designated as a national peace university aside from its original mandate of being a comprehensive university system.

As a national peace university, it will be recognized as an institution of higher education for peace and development that will promote the principles of understanding, mutual respect, peaceful co-existence, democracy, and justice.

The panel also approved the committee report on House Resolution 1836 congratulating and commending the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery on the occasion of its Sesquicentennial Anniversary and its contribution to medical education, as well as to its development in the country.