TINGOG Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Avorque Acidre have announced that their House Bill (HB) 1581 or the Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) Governance Act hurdled the House committee on higher and technical education last Monday.

In the sponsorship speech of Acidre, he emphasized the need to provide mandatory guidelines on LUCs to achieve such quality and excellence in the areas of school administration, facilities, library and laboratories, curriculum and instruction, research and community service, and faculty and non-teaching personnel development programs.

Based on the proposed measure, the LUCs shall submit a 1) feasibility study; 2) a certification of availability of funds by the treasurer of the LGU; 3) a project development plan showing that the LGU allocated a school site with appropriate size and location pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Building Code of the Philippines; 4) a five-year institutional development plan duly approved by the Sanggunian, among others, to the Commisson on Higher Education (CHED) for its establishment.

Existing LUCs from the effectivity of the proposed bill shall be allowed to comply with the requirements and continue its operations within a non-extendible period of three (3) years.

Non-compliance with the requirements under this Act within this period shall result in the phase-out or closure of the programs being offered by the LUC concerned.

The bill also imposes a fine of P500,000 against any person who violates any of the provisions of the Act.

According to Acidre, “the creation of Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) within local government units (LGUs) provide the Filipinos an access to quality higher education.”

“However, there is a need to rationalize the establishment of these LUCs,” Acidre added.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco