THE SENATE has approved on third and final reading a bill declaring May 18 of every year as National Higher Education Day to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Commission on Higher Education.

With 19 affirmative votes, zero negative vote and no abstention, Senate Bill 1216, under Committee Report No. 85 or the National Higher Education Day was approved.

Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education chairman Senator Joel Villanueva, principal author and sponsor of SBN 1216, said the bill seeks to recognize the role of higher education in national development and in the advancement of society by designating every 18th day of May every year as National Higher Education Day.

CHED, the agency primarily responsible for public and private colleges and universities, was created following the enactment into law of Republic Act No. 7722 or the Higher Education Act of 1994.

“We are witnesses to how institutions of higher learning here in the Philippines play what the World Bank describes as critical role in supporting knowledge driven economic growth and the construction of democratic socially cohesive society,” Villanueva said.

Under the measure, all heads of government agencies and instrumentalities, including government owned-and-controlled corporations, local government units, public and private educational institutions, employers in the private sector, and industry associations, shall encourage and afford sufficient time and opportunities for their students or employees to participate in any activity conducted within the premises of their schools, offices or establishments in celebration of the ‘National HighercEducation Day’.

SBN 1216 designates the CHED as the lead agency in charge of the preparation and implementation of an annual program of activities and advocacy campaign for the observance of the ‘National Higher Education Day’.

All higher education institutions shall also provide full support and assistance to the preparation of the annual program of activities and events to be conducted by CHED in observance of the event pursuant to this Act.