A BILL seeking to convert the South Cotabato State College (SCSC) in Surallah, South Cotabato, into a state university has been filed in the Senate.

Under Senate Bill No. 2427, authored by Senator Joel Villanueva, the institution will be renamed South Cotabato State University (SCSU) and provided with funding to support its transition and expanded operations.

According to the bill’s explanatory note, the measure aims to strengthen access to quality higher education in South Cotabato by expanding academic offerings in agriculture, environmental management, engineering, education, arts and sciences, and technology.

It also seeks to enhance the institution’s research, extension, and innovation programs through partnerships with government agencies and local industries.

The proposal provides for the continued delivery of affordable education through scholarships, affirmative action programs, and the Free Higher Education law, while retaining technical-vocational and distance learning opportunities.

The conversion will take effect only after the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) determines that SCSC has substantially complied with the requirements for university status.

The college will also be required to prepare a development plan and establish the necessary academic and administrative structures.

Villanueva said the measure is an investment in the future of South Cotabato, giving more learners opportunities to pursue higher education without leaving their communities.