THE Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) in Negros Occidental is now a state university.
This was made official after President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) 1136 converting CHMSC into a university.
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Greg Gasataya said Tuesday, July 2, the Malacanang informed him last week that Duterte already signed RA 1136.
“I’m still waiting for the copy from the Malacañang, but the important thing is it was already signed by President Duterte,” he said.
House Bill 8732, which seeks the conversion of CHMSC into a university, was authored by Gasataya and co-authored by Representatives Alfredo Benitez of the Third District and Alejandro Mirasol of the Fifth District of Negros Occidental.
The CHMSC in Talisay City, formerly known as Paglaum State College, has three satellite campuses -- in Barangay Alijis and Fortune Towne, Bacolod City and in Binalbagan.
Gasataya said it will be the pride of the school to be a university and its budget will also increase so they can offer more courses.
“We filed this bill because it’s an advantage to our students and to improve the quality of education,” he said.
He added the CHMSC will only follow some guidelines for the implementation of this law.
For his part, Rhoderick Samonte, director for External Affairs of CHMSC, said the CHMSC is grateful for the news that they are now a state university.
He said they are sincerely grateful to Gasataya and Benitez who personally relayed the message to President Renato Sorollla.
“We cannot yet make an official claim and announcement from our end though until we have received a copy of the law or the RA as well as an official written confirmation from Commission on Higher Education. We hope to receive such anytime soon. Once we have formally received them we will call for a press conference and make our official announcement and address all the details that everyone needs to know,” he added.
“For now, all we express is our gratefulness to the good congressmen, including Congressman Mirasol, co-author and Senator Bam Aquino who authored the counterpart bill in the Senate,” Samonte said.