THE HOUSE of Representatives has approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 9467, a measure seeking to convert the Samar National School of Arts and Trade (SNSAT) in Taft, Eastern Samar, into the Eastern Samar Polytechnic Institute (ESPI) under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The proposed institute aims to expand access to advanced technical-vocational education and training (TVET) and equip students with skills aligned with high-demand jobs in both local and overseas labor markets.

The bill was jointly authored by Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, a native of Taft.

Gonzales said the measure is intended to provide young people and residents of Taft and nearby communities with practical, market-relevant training that can lead to immediate employment, entrepreneurship, or gainful self-employment.

“We want the new institute to produce graduates with hands-on training that can lead to immediate jobs, gainful self-employment, or opportunities to start their own businesses,” Gonzales said.

Under the bill, ESPI will offer TESDA-registered programs, post-secondary short-term courses, undergraduate certificate and diploma programs, and modular training in industrial technology, tourism and hospitality, agriculture and aquaculture, information technology, automotive servicing, welding, electrical installation, and computer servicing.

The institute will also prioritize economically disadvantaged students, out-of-school youth, persons with disabilities, and Indigenous Peoples for scholarships, grants-in-aid, and other forms of financial assistance.

In addition, ESPI may establish research and technology hubs, technology development farms, satellite campuses, and mobile training programs to bring technical education closer to underserved communities.

Gonzales said the proposed polytechnic institute will help strengthen Eastern Samar’s workforce by producing skilled and globally competitive graduates while supporting sustainable livelihoods and local economic growth.