House okays establishment of state university in San Fernando City
THE House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure establishing a regular and permanent campus of the Pampanga State University in San Fernando City, the province’s capital.
Author of House Bill 9988, Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., said the measure was passed with the support of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.
“I and our Kabalen will be eternally grateful to our good Speaker for supporting us in trying to expand the oldest school in our province so it can offer quality education,” Gonzales said.
“Speaker Martin is one of us Pampangueños, his mother, Madam Juliette Gomez-Romualdez, being from Mabalacat City,” he said.
He said his House boss also supported the renaming of Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) to Pampanga State University.
At present, the province’s oldest technical-vocational school has campuses in the towns of Bacolor, Mexico, Porac, Sto. Tomas, Candaba, and Lubao.
Gonzales said the absence of a state university “in the heart of the province compels students to seek admission in state universities and colleges and other schools outside their area of residence.”
“This situation, coupled with high fuel prices and worsening traffic, forces the students’ families to incur extra expenses, robs students of their productive time and may promote disinterest among the youth to pursue or complete their college, technical or professional education,” he said.
He said the establishment of the San Fernando campus and the central location of the province’s capital “shall bring education opportunities closer to underprivileged but deserving students.”
