Rep. Alvarez pushes higher budget for SUCs

REPRESENTATIVE Mercedes Alvarez (6th district, Negros Occidental) is pushing for higher allocation for state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Philippines.

Alvarez is the main author of the bill which was recently signed by President Benigno Aquino III into a law for the conversion of Negros State College of Agriculture (NSCA) into the Central Philippine State University (CPSU).

Alvarez said that one advantage of the conversion from a state college into a state university is it would mean higher allocation.

She said there is a need to increase the budget of the state universities, citing that this is also the consensus of state university presidents all over the country.

She pointed out that state universities cater to the less-privileged yet academically capable students.

It is one way to help them avail of quality education, Alvarez said.

CPSU has numerous extension campuses in the different localities in the province which makes education more accessible to the students.

During the occasion, Alvarez also announced that there will be no tuition increase for CPSU, further stressing that this is meant to make quality education accessible to all.

The launching was joined by Alvarez’s co-author of the bill Representative Alfredo Benitez (3rd district, Negros Occidental), CPSU president Dr. Fred Maningo, Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regional director Virginia Resurreccion and mayors of the different municipal campuses of the CPSU. (Teresa D. Ellera and Carla N. Canet)