TACLOBAN CITY — Students in Eastern Samar may soon have greater access to college education closer to home after the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill converting the Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) extension units in Arteche and Balangiga into regular campuses.
House Bill No. 9464, principally authored by Eastern Samar Lone District Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan, seeks to upgrade and expand the existing ESSU extension units in the two municipalities into full-fledged campuses of the province’s lone state university.
The measure is expected to strengthen higher education opportunities in Eastern Samar by bringing more degree programs and academic services closer to students in remote communities.
“This measure will significantly expand access to state-subsidized higher education across Eastern Samar. Students in and around Arteche and Balangiga will no longer have to travel far from home to pursue the college degree programs they want,” Gonzales said.
The lawmaker reiterated his commitment to making higher quality education more accessible to Eastern Samar residents.
“We remain committed to promoting greater access to high-quality, state-subsidized college education throughout Eastern Samar,” he said.
Gonzales emphasized the role of education in improving economic opportunities and uplifting families.
“There’s no question that higher learning opens more opportunities for gainful employment and gives families a better chance to improve their quality of life,” he added.
Under the proposed measure, the new campuses will offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs, technical-vocational courses, and research and extension services. Each campus will be headed by a full-time campus director.
ESSU currently serves nearly 25,000 students and employs 721 faculty members across its campuses.
Once the measure becomes law, the university’s campus network will expand to seven, including its main campus in Borongan City and existing regular campuses in Can-avid, Guiuan, Maydolong, and Salcedo.
The creation of the new campuses is expected to further strengthen ESSU’s role in delivering affordable and accessible higher education to students throughout Eastern Samar.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
