Senate Oks 12 bills on public schools, SUCs on final reading

The Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading a total of 12 bills seeking to establish, convert, and rename public elementary and secondary schools, state universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide.

Approved were measures establishing the Silverio Elementary School (HBN 7241), the Tambo National High School (HBN 7178) in Parañaque City, and the Veinte Reales National High School in Valenzuela City (HBN 7240).

Also approved were House Bills separating and converting the Alameda National High School in Igbaras, Iloilo (HBN 7175); the San Pablo National High School in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat (HBN 7176); the Malanday National High School in Valenzuela City (HBN 7177); the Sta. Ana National High School in San Joaquin, Iloilo (HBN 7242) and the Upper Katungal National High School in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat (HBN 7243).

The bills were sponsored by Senator Francis Escudero, chairperson of the Committee on Education, Arts and Culture.

Escudero said the establishment and conversion of these elementary and secondary schools would help solve the problem on classroom-to-teacher-to-student shortage ratio in those areas.

He added that the bills would guarantee budgetary appropriations for these schools to help provide their students a “better quality and accessible education for their constituencies.”

Meanwhile, bills seeking to rename Naval State University into the Biliran Province State University (HBN 6065), and convert the Southern Philippines Agriculture, Business Marine and Aquatic School of Technology–Digos City campus into the Davao Del Sur State College (HBN 6715), the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College into the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (HBN 6741) and the Camarines Sur Institute of Fisheries and Marine Sciences-Ragay Campus into the Ragay Polytechnic Skills Institute (HBN 6995) were also approved on final reading. /ee