No tuition hike for Central Philippines State University

REPRESENTATIVE Mercedes Alvarez (6th district, Negros Occidental) assured students and parents of the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) that there will be no tuition increase this coming school year 2013-2014.

Alvarez, who is the main author of the recently approved law that converted Negros State College of Agriculture (NSCA) into CPSU, made the assurance during the launching program for the new university at its main campus in Barangay Camingawan, Kabankalan City.

"My heart leaps with joy as I see the realization of our dream for this state college, now a state university - the first and only state university in the province of Negros Occidental. From being known as Nona’s and later on as NOAC and converted into NSCA in 2001, and now a state university, this institution has come a long way, producing numerous graduates, offering more courses aside from agriculture, but most especially, extending quality and affordable education to the people not only in the CHICKS area but also in various parts of the province," Alvarez said in her speech.

She vowed to improve the quality of education of the university without increasing the tuition this coming school year. “Others said that we changed only the name of NSCA. The conversion of NSCA into CPSU passed through Congress and the Senate and was signed into law by the President."

Alvarez said CPSU is the legacy of her father, Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, to the education sector and to the youth.

The vice governor was conferred by the School of his Doctorate Degree Honoris Causa.

During the said conferment, the vice governor said that NSCA symbolizes one his greatest achievements in his many years as a public servant.

Representative Alvarez said her father has also thousands of scholarship beneficiaries that made him push for the development of the school.

She said the vice governor has inspired her to work for the passage of the conversion of the college into a university to further enhance the quality of education that the school offers.

The vice governor was originally the author of the bill for the conversion of the state college into a state university during his last term as congressman of the sixth district.

She said that together with Representative Albee Benitez (3rd district) and the late congressman Ignacio Arroyo, they re-filed the said bill and tirelessly lobbied for it until it finally passed through Republic Act 10228, mandating the conversion of NSCA into CPSU. (TDE)