Republic of the Philippines

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Bills, Quezon City

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

gent
House sino. 3694

Introduced by Honorable MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA

EXPLANATORY NOTE
Section 1, Article XIV of the Constitution states:

“SECTION 1. The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to
quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education
accessible to all.”

Pursuant to the aforecited provision, the government is mandated to provide every citizen the
opportunity to pursue higher education and relevant training in any field of study which will contribute
to the development of our economy.

While it is the primary duty of the government to ensure that quality education is made affordable and
accessible to the citizens, the alarm is sounded on the proliferation of local colleges in various localities
as well as the conversion of colleges into state universities.

Although it is appreciated that the establishment of educational institutions could be good for the
community, it is a concern on the other hand that the actual educational needs of that community may
not be properly addressed, in the absence of actual study of what fields should be the main focus of
courses offered in those institutions.

One of higher education’s objectives is to provide a general education program that will assist each
individual to develop his potential as a human being, enhance the quality of citizen participation in the
basic functions of society, and promote in each student a sense of national identity, cultural
consciousness, moral integrity and spiritual vigor.

There is therefore a need for a moratorium in the establishment of local colleges and in the conversion
of colleges to state universities for at least three years. During this period, the Commission on Higher
Education (CHED) is given enough time to conduct a thorough study on how to reform and rationalize
the educational policy needs for higher educational institutions across the country. CHED is also
mandated to come up with a consolidated recommendation for the educational needs of the various
localities in order to train the nation’s human resources in the required skills for national development,
and to instill and foster the appropriate and relevant attitudes, skills and knowledge to enable each
individual to become a useful, productive, globally competitive, and gainfully employed member of
society. With these specific educational purposes, the establishment of local colleges and the
conversion of colleges into state universities will be more responsive to the needs of the specific locality.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

a)
MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Bills, Queson City

2 FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

eer
House Bil No,__ 8654

Introduced by Honorable MA. ANGELICA M. AMANTE-MATBA.

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR A THREE-YEAR MORATORIUM IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LOCAL COLLEGES AND IN THE
CONVERSION OF COLLEGES INTO STATE UNIVERSITIESTO ENABLE THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER
EDUCATION (CHED) TO REFORM AND RATIONALIZE THE EDUCATIONAL POLICY NEED FOR HIGHER
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. There shall be a three-year moratorium in the establishment of local colleges and in the

conversion of colleges into state universities.

SECTION 2. The Commission on Higher Education shall conduct a thorough study to properly identify
the educational needs of various localities across the country. The results of said study shall be
incorporated in a consolidated recommendation before applications for establishment of colleges and
conversions of colleges into state universities shall be acted upon. The CHED shall likewise issue rules
and regulations as may be necessary for the effective implementation of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after publi
(2) national newspapers of general circulation.

ition in the Official Gazette or in two

Approved,