Kimberly Capuyan

The House of Representatives on February 3 approved on third and final reading a proposed law declaring the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) the National Polytechnic University (NPU), despite wide condemnation from the PUP community.

Photos Courtesy of The Catalyst/Pinoy Weekly/Polytechnic University of the Philippines.

House Bill No. 11341 or the proposed Revised Polytechnic University of the Philippines Charter was passed with 196 affirmative votes and 3 abstentions. 

“As the National Polytechnic University, the PUP shall primarily offer higher occupational, technical, and professional instruction and training programs in the fields of engineering and architecture, applied sciences, and other polytechnic programs,” the bill read.

The bill mandates PUP to serve as the “guide to other polytechnic universities and colleges in the development and delivery of professional and technical programs.”

It also promises institutional and fiscal autonomy, and shall exclusively determine its teaching, research and extensions thrust, plans, policies, programs, and standards.

In a Facebook post on February 4, the PUP College of Political Science and Public Administration Student Council expressed its opposition to the NPU bill and the commercialization and privatization of PUP.

“In this bill, some sections lean towards commercialization and privatization like joint business ventures and privatizing of non-academic services, such as health, food, and property maintenance,” the post read.

“There is no other way, but to oppose this bill which closes the door for providing accessible and quality education for all Iskolar ng Bayan,” it added.

Other student councils and organizations also released public statements to protest against the NPU bill following its approval.

The bill was filed in the House of Representatives on September 6, 2023, by ACT-CIS Party-list solons led by Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo to introduce essential amendments to Presidential Decree 1341, or the Polytechnic University of the Philippines charter.

“The proposed changes are intended to ensure that the PUP remains a relevant and effective institution, committed to high-quality education, innovation, and socio-economic development,” the bill read.

“These measures are driven by the fundamental goal of elevating the quality of education and nurturing academic excellence within PUP,” it added.

The bill aimed to “advance education and academic excellence through modernizing PUP’s charter” to adapt to the evolving educational landscape in the Philippines.

The PUP currently has more than 20 campuses serving 80,000 students, according to the university.