SENATOR Alan Peter Cayetano has recommended converting Sulu State College in Jolo, Sulu, into a state university, aiming to strengthen the education sector and promote equitable development in the province.

Cayetano submitted Senate Committee Report No. 467 for the proposed Sulu State University, outlined in House Bill No. 9334, to enhance higher education in the region through advanced instruction and research in fields like agriculture, engineering, and education.

As chair of the Senate Committees on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, Cayetano emphasized the role of education as a driver of progress. “If you look at Vietnam, they’ve really surged in Southeast Asia, and now their economy boasts one of the best education systems in the world,” Cayetano said. “In the next 20 years, they might leave us behind if we don’t change our attitude toward investing in education.”

The proposal seeks to further develop Sulu State College, the only state college in the province, to provide underprivileged but deserving students with access to quality tertiary education.

Last year, Cayetano committed to supporting bills that create new state colleges, upgrade existing ones into state universities, and convert satellite campuses into regular campuses, all to improve access to education, especially in provinces.

Cayetano also spearheaded the charter amendment of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, granting it institutional autonomy.

While Committee Report No. 467 awaits deliberation in the Senate plenary, Cayetano plans to file additional bills related to higher education as the Senate session resumes.

Cayetano reiterated his call for greater investments in education, emphasizing its critical role in shaping the nation’s future. “It’s a cultural shift, but also a demand. If young people start demanding, ‘Give us less talk and more funding for education,’ it will happen,” he said.