SENATE Majority Leader Francis Tolentino underscored the need to allocate more funds from the education budget to support the operations of community colleges managed by local government units (LGUs).

Tolentino said increased support for these colleges would improve young people’s access to affordable tertiary education within their communities.

He shared that one of his first initiatives as mayor of Tagaytay City was establishing the City College of Tagaytay.

“To date, our local college has produced numerous nurses and graduates in various fields. It was a worthwhile investment,” he emphasized.

As a senator, Tolentino said he has continued to support LGUs seeking to establish their own tertiary institutions.

“In Batangas, I helped Laurel and the city of Calaca. I also supported Alicia, a municipality in Bohol, to put up a small college,” he said.

“I look forward to seeing more LGUs—especially those with the means—establish their own community colleges,” he concluded.