Dalog seeks changes to law on MPSPC conversion to university

By Erlindo Agwilang Jr.

Rep. Maximo B. Dalog of the Lone District of Mountain Province wants to amend Republic Act 10583, the law converting Mountain Province State Polytechnic College   (MPSPC)   into   state   university   to   be   known   as   Mountain   Province   State University with campuses in municipalities of Tadian, Bauko, Paracelis and Barlig.

Under House Bill No. 6321   filed Dec.  8,  Dalog   introduced amendments   to   Republic Act  10583   by   extending deadline  for  the institution’s compliance with requirements from Jan. 1, 2016 to Jan. 1, 2019 and at the same time transfer the main campus located at Bontoc to Tadian.

This development arose after the Commission on Higher Education revealed at the hearing of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education last Dec. 7 MPSPC has yet to comply substantially with remaining requirements in research, faculty qualifications, library assets and laboratory apparatus.

CHED’s newest update on the SUC’s compliance with requirements for university status reads: “Based on the findings of the Task Group during the latest visit on November 2015, there are serious efforts made to comply with the CHED requirements. However, there   is   need   for   the   college   to   exert   more   efforts   towards   complying   with   the requirements   for   a   strong   research   program,   faculty   qualifications,   adequate   library resources and adequate library equipment.”  

Lawyer Carmelita Y. Sison, director for legal services noted significant improvement of   MPSPC   from   CHED’s   last   visit.  

She   said   there   is   already   50-75%   fulfillment ofMPSPC   as   it complied   with   accreditation, linkages   and   outreach, including   academic   policies,   systems   and   procedures.  

Along   these   operational requirements, the institution needs to resolve minor deficiencies as it lacks one more international linkage by presenting evidence to verify the exact terms of reference of linkage other than the memorandum of understanding submitted.       

For   faculty   requirement,   CHED   said   the   program   head   for   engineering   and   faculty teaching   the   professional   courses   have   no   relevant   MBA   and   master’s   degree   in Engineering.

It also noted that the institution needs to comply with required minimum number of books and journal subscriptions for IT, engineering, accountancy, and nursing programs.  

Though   there   are   newly-acquired   facilities   in chemistry, physics   and biology laboratories, the school needs licensed software for the information technology   program   with   better   internet   connectivity   in all campuses. 

Meanwhile, the reason for the transfer of main campus from Bontoc to Tadian was because of land area requirement of CHED. Bontoc campus has only about 0.3963 hectares while Tadian campus has 8.5729 hectares which is far above the land area required by CHED for main campuses.

In   his explanatory note,   Dalog said the   current   main   campus has   a limited space for expansion and development thus the need to relocate it to Tadian which has more extensive and comprehensive area.

The seat of governance though in administering the affairs of the institution will remain at the Bontoc campus.

“Considering further that the MPSPC-Bontoc campus is located in the Central Town of Bontoc where the seat of provincial and also where the national offices are located, it would be easier and more convenient for the seat of governance of the MPSPC to be located at the Bontoc Campus to efficiently and regularly deal with the provincial and national offices,” Dalog added.

The explanatory note of HB 6321 also reads: “Follow up reports submitted to the CHED on the status of conversion reveals that there has already been substantial compliance on the part of MPSPC. However, since we are fast-approaching the January 1, 2016 deadline, there is a need to extend said period to ensure that the MPSPC is given the opportunity to comply with the remaining requirements and so as not to waste time and resources spent by the college in trying to meet the conditions set forth in RA 10583.”