A TOTAL of 11 bills sponsored by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano aimed at strengthening tertiary education in the provinces have advanced in the Senate.

These include proposals to establish the first-ever state colleges in the provinces of Sarangani and Dinagat Islands.

Seven of the measures, under the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education chaired by Cayetano, were approved on Third and Final Reading.

The bills seek to enhance the institutional capacity of various colleges and universities to deliver quality education to more students in their respective localities.

Each of the following House Bills received unanimous support from the 21 senators present during the session:

House Bill No. 9315 – Converts J.H. Cerilles State College in Zamboanga del Sur into Zamboanga del Sur State University

House Bill No. 9332 – Converts Zamboanga del Sur School of Arts and Trades into Zamboanga del Sur Polytechnic State College

House Bill No. 9334 – Converts Sulu State College into Sulu State University

House Bill No. 10181 – Establishes a College of Medicine in Sultan Kudarat State University

House Bill Nos. 10408 and 10619 – Converts the extension campuses of Cebu Normal University in Medellin and Balamban into regular campuses

House Bill No. 10822 – Converts the extension campuses of Guimaras State University in Jordan and San Lorenzo into regular campuses

Senate Bill No. 916 and House Bill No. 10405, which propose the establishment of the first state colleges in Sarangani and Dinagat Islands respectively, are also progressing after Cayetano sponsored them on the same day.

He also sponsored:

House Bill No. 9314, converting Baao Community College in Camarines Sur into a state college, and House Bill No. 9742, elevating Aurora State College of Technology in Baler, Aurora into a state university.

Cayetano thanked his fellow lawmakers who authored and supported the measures but stressed that the government’s efforts should go beyond passing legislation.

“Ang akin lang pong hihingin sa pag-o-honor sa kanila ay masundan ito ng sapat na pondo or the right funding,” he said.

“Yes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. And if the first step is establishing these state universities, or in the case of conversions ay lalong pagandahin, [then] the major step really is providing the right resources,” he added.

Cayetano also called on the national government, local governments, and the private sector to collaborate in creating opportunities for students to learn and gain experiences beyond the classroom.

“There are things that can be learned in the four walls of the classroom, but there are much, much more that can be learned outside the campuses of state universities,” he said.

“If you look, for example, at Silicon Valley, it’s really the synergy between the private sector, the government, and educational institutes that promotes the creativity and innovation we need,” he added.