The House of Representatives approved a measure on second reading aimed at establishing improved standards for local universities and colleges (LUCs).

In a sponsorship speech at the House of Representatives, Tingog Partylist Rep. Jude Acidre underscored the importance of LUCs for families that could not afford to send their children to their aspired institutions, which he said were often far from home.

Acidre, however, noted that the reliance on such institutions had to be met with resolutions to issues such as uneven academic standards, political interference, unstable funding, and governance problems just to name a few.

“Access alone is not enough. A publicly funded college must offer education that is credible, relevant, and worthy of the trust placed in it by students, families, and taxpayers,” he stressed.

Must be community responsive

Under the bill called the “Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) Governance Act,” the government sought to ensure that facilities maintained academic credibility, financial stability, and were responsive to the needs of their respective communities.

The measure would require local institutions to ensure that the programs they offered were relevant to the available employment opportunities in their respective communities, ensuring that students were equipped with the necessary abilities to contribute to society.

Aside from local government assistance, national agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority would be instructed to create guidelines that institutions could follow for compliance with national standards.

More than just focusing on students, the bill also sought to enhance facilities and assistance to faculty members while also improving learning facilities, providing access to more learning resources, and forming partnerships with industries for internship programs.

“This measure does not weaken local autonomy. It makes local autonomy more responsible, transparent, and sustainable. It affirms that our LUCs deserve a clear governance framework and strong public support,” Acidre said.