PNoy signs law converting MPSPC into university

BAGUIO CITY -- The only state college in  Mountain Province is now a university. 

President Benigno S. Aquino III signed on May 24  the  law converting the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College into the Mountain Province State University.

The President signed Republic Act 10583 “An Act Converting the Mountain Province State Polytechnic College in the Municipality of Bontoc, Mountain Province Into a State University to be Known as the Mountain Province State University, with the Campuses in the Municipalities of Tadian, Bauko, Paracelis, and Barlig, all located in Mountain Province and Appropriating Funds Therefor.”

The MPSU will have  its  main campus in the municipality of Bontoc and integrating as its branches the Tadian School of Arts and Trades located in Tadian town, which shall be its College of Engineering; the Bacarri Agricultural High School located in Paracelis town, which shall be its College of Agriculture; and the Eastern Bontoc National Agricultural School located in the municipality of Barlig, which shall be its College of Forestry.

As mandated by law, the university will provide advanced education, higher technological, professional instruction and training in forestry and agriculture, teacher education, engineering and technology.

It will also focus on arts, humanities, sciences and other relevant fields of study. The academic institution will also promote and undertake research, extension services and production activities in support of the socioeconomic development of Mountain Province and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The new law will take effect 15 days after being published in two major newspapers of general circulation.

In 2009, the Commission on Higher Education-Cordillera has endorsed the application of the MPSPC for university status after rigid assessment on its compliance to omnibus regulations promulgated by the Commission relative to the conversion of a college to a university.

MPSPC has voluntarily submitted itself to evaluation done by the CHED on its compliance to a 13-point requirement imposed to schools aspiring for university status.

At the same time, the school’s board of trustees also approved the desire of the only State-run higher education institution in this province to become one of the universities in the region.