SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for a more relevant charter for the Polytechnic University of the Philippines or PUP to expand the university’s capacity and boost its graduates’ employability.

Cayetano, chair of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, sponsored Senate Bill No. 2669 under Committee Report No. 252 which seeks to update PUP’s charter by providing it with fiscal and institutional autonomy.

If passed, the new charter will grant PUP exclusive control over its funds as well as the freedom to broaden its range of degree programs beyond just technical and applied sciences.

These changes will enable the state university to enhance its facilities, accommodate more students, and offer new degree programs that align with labor market demands.

“Throughout the years grabe ang suporta sa PUP, especially ng mga student leaders at haligi ng PUP. It’s time now na ang Senate ang magtanim ng isang mas relevant at updated na charter para sa kanila,” Cayetano said in his speech.

The Senator commended PUP for consistently producing highly employable graduates despite limited resources, highlighting the potential impact of the measure.

“Sa ilang mga survey, ang sinasabi ng ilang employers, prefer nila ang PUP graduates… If you compare their per capita spending to some of our leading universities, makikita mong they’ve done so much with so little,” he said.

“Dahil sa kahirapan, usually ang parents tinutulak talaga ang mga anak doon sa kursong mae-employ sila. Ang maganda sa PUP, sa dami nilang programa, kung ano po ang ambisyon o God-given talent and purpose ng bata, makakapili sila pero siguradong employable,” he added.

Thanking his fellow senators who principally sponsored the measure, Cayetano called for the whole Chamber’s support.

“I’d like to ask you for assistance that in the next three weeks, pag hinimay natin itong bill na ‘to – and hopefully we can come up with a consensus – na mai-regalo na natin sa mga estudyante at haligi ng PUP ang kanilang revised charter,” he said.