SENATOR Manuel “Lito” Lapid filed a measure that prescribes mandatory guidelines on the establishment and operation of local universities and colleges.

In filing Senate Bill 1999 or the proposed Local Universities and Colleges Governance Act, Lapid stressed that the local government code provided the Local Government Units the power to establish and operate vocational and technical schools and similar post-secondary institutions.

The provision helped with the creation of LUCs and in providing affordable and accessible education to Filipinos.

“However, the mere creation of the same is not an end in itself. Rather, it is only a means to ensure a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society,” Lapid said in his explanatory note.

He also said that the diverse conditions in different LGUs, including economic, social, and political, and the varying capabilities of the local governments present unique challenges to LUCs across the board.

The measure is an attempt at making the LUC experience comparable across the country.

The bill prescribes mandatory guidelines on the establishment of LUCs to create a standard and integrated system of higher education and provide appropriate direction in their governance to meet the ever-changing challenges in higher education.