SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian disagreed with the proposal to establish a centralized entrepreneurs’ academy in the country saying that several state universities and colleges are already offering the program.

Gatchalian asked for the logic behind the proposal during the hybrid hearing of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education.

The senator said he is a firm believer of entrepreneurship, it being the backbone and the foundation of the economy. However, he noted that there are 254 Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship courses being offered in 127 SUCs nationwide.

“I think it’s good in terms of cascading entrepreneurship all the way down to the different LGUs… what’s the logic of having a centralized academy if we have already 254 institutions offering entrepreneurship?” Gatchalian asked.

In response, lawyer Frederick Mikhail Farolan said that the Commission on Higher Education ensures that all higher education institutions offer the same level of quality or comply with the minimum requirements for a quality entrepreneurship program.

He said having a state-run institution that primarily focuses on entrepreneurship could look at emerging trends so that government resources could be focused on entrepreneurship education and training.