SENATOR Christopher Bong Go has filed a bill seeking to expand equitable access to higher education and strengthen regional development in Davao Oriental by upgrading extension units of the Davao Oriental State University.

Under Senate Bill No. 1782, the university’s extension campuses in Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona will be converted into full-fledged regular campuses.

The proposed measure aims to enhance institutional capacity, broaden academic offerings, and bring quality tertiary education closer to underserved communities in the province.

“Education is a fundamental right and a vital tool for socio-economic development, especially in areas such as Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona in Davao Oriental,” Go said, noting that as the province’s premier state university, DOrSU is mandated to provide accessible, quality, and relevant higher education to support local and regional development.

The bill recalled that on May 28, 2018, Republic Act No. 11033 was signed into law, converting the Davao Oriental State College of Science and Technology into the current university system.

However, Go pointed out that the extension campuses remain limited in terms of program offerings, personnel, and facilities due to their operational status.

Citing the 2024 Census of Population of the Philippine Statistics Authority, the measure noted that Baganga has a population of 59,796; Cateel, 45,623; and Tarragona, 27,349.

Go stressed that these growing communities require localized access to complete higher education programs, particularly for students facing geographical and financial constraints in pursuing studies outside their municipalities.

By elevating the extension units to regular campuses, Go said DOrSU would be able to expand academic programs, improve facilities, and hire additional faculty and staff, promoting equitable access to education and supporting the region’s human capital development.

The proposed Davao Oriental State University — Baganga, Cateel, and Tarragona Campuses Act mandates the new regular campuses to offer undergraduate and graduate programs responsive to the human resource needs of Davao Oriental and the wider Davao Region. They will also undertake research and extension services to contribute to socio-economic development and provide progressive leadership in their respective areas.

Each campus will be headed by a full-time campus director. The bill requires compliance with the policies, standards, and guidelines of the Commission on Higher Education for their operation as regular campuses.