Mt. Province, Kalinga state colleges not universities yet

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Two state colleges recently declared by President Aquino as universities --each in Mountain Province and Kalinga have yet to comply with provisions of the law before they will be full-fledged universities.

These include Mountain Province State Polytechnique College and Kalinga State College,

Republic Act 10583 mandates the MPSPC to fully comply with six primary conditions before being given full status as university, thus, it is premature for management to use the term university in its name.

MPSPC president Dr. Eufemia Lamen said MPSPC could become full-fledged university by 2016.

This in response to the conditions of RA  10583 signed by President Benign Aquino 111 on May 24, 2013, converting MPSPC into a state university to be known as the Mountain Province State University.

Speaking during a press conference here with Montanosa Press Club, Lamen said operational requirements provided in the law are “doable” for said school to become a university.

One condition of RA 10583 cited the school should have gained Level 111 accreditation or equivalent under Commission on Higher Education  policies for at least four of its undergraduate programs, one in liberal arts, and one in the sciences and two of its graduate programs.

Lamen said one prioritized course is on agriculture and a liberal arts program.

Currently, there are two major bachelor programs of MPSPC- College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in the main Bontoc campus and the College of Engineering and Technology and Forestry (CET) at the Tadian Campus.

CAS bachelor science courses currently offered are in accounting technology, accountancy, commerce, computer technology, criminology, secondary education, elementary education, office administration and nursing; and bachelor of arts.  

CET bachelor science courses are in forestry, agro-forestry, agricultural technology, civil engineering, geodetic engineering, electrical engineering, environmental science, elementary education, secondary education, industrial technology, hotel and restaurant management, technology transfer classes and agro forestry technician certificate.

Graduate school programs presently offered are master of arts in teaching, general education, public administration and science education

Also, adequate library and laboratories are a requirement with a P7 million support fund from CHED this year. Lamen said the necessary facilities such as books and laboratory equipment shall be purchased as soon as possible.

Research and development output of practical application to the community is specially cited as a condition.  

A  P1.8 million research on heirloom rice resiliency to climate change shall be implemented in the next two months and most importantly a review of the researches already done for application, she added. 

Meanwhile, the Kalinga-Apayao State College’s bid to become a fully-operational university is not yet over with the three-year period given under Republic Act  10584 for it to comply with mandatory operational requirements.

In the case of MPSPC, Section 24 of RA 10583 states “The institution shall retain its status prior to the effectivity of the Act unless in the meantime it is able to comply with the requirements provided herein, within a period not exceeding January 2016.”

MPSPC must also establish sufficient relevant linkages and outreach programs that are of service to the community and relevant academic policies, systems and processes.

It states the provisions of the law notwithstanding, the establishment or conversion of the institution into a state university shall become effective only upon the determination and declaration by the CHED, based on the recommendation of a panel of experts, that the institution has fully complied with the requirements for university status.

The CHED through its regional office, shall regularly provide technical assistance to the institution and monitor compliance with the requirements of the Commission and it shall designate a panel of experts who shall prepare a recommendation to the Chairperson of the CHED, on whether the institution has substantially complied with the requirements for the grant of university status.

The law cited provisions of Republic Act No. 8292, known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997,”shall be an integral part of the Act and shall serve as part of the governing Charter of the university once it will be able to achieve full university status after compliance to the imposed conditions.

MPSPC was established on Jan. 17, 1992 when former President Corazon C. Aquino signed into law its Charter through the initiative of the late Rep. Victor S. Dominguez.

Meanwhile, Republic Act 10584 or an Act creating the Kalinga State University (KSU) in Tabuk City was signed into law by President Benigno C. Aquino last May 24, 2013.

According to KASC president Eduardo T. Bagtang, KASC is given until January 2016 to comply with the three requirements that include obtaining a level-3 accreditation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of at least four of KASC’s academic programs covering College of Liberal Arts, College of Sciences and Graduate School.

As of now, only the College of Agricultural Engineering of KASC has obtained level-3 accreditation with CHED, Bagtang disclosed.

Second, KASC should meet the full-time faculty-student ratio with required degrees and third, the college should meet required library and laboratory facilities that could function for other community extension programs.

Bagtang said KASC can meet all the CHED operational requirements before the deadline set.

He said accreditation steps have been set in place since he assumed as college president, saying this will be formally launched next month.

Meantime, KASC operates as a state college even with the signing of RA 10584 until it has fully complied with all operational requirements in 2016. –By Gina Dizon,Larry Lopez and Dexter See