LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- The provincial government underscored its commitment to provide accessible education to Pangasinan residents.
This was after the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) unanimously passed on Monday, June 26, an ordinance calling for the establishment of a school which will be called Pangasinan Polytechnic College (PPC).
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the school’s operation for school year 2023-2024 will start soon, although Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino said there is still no definite month.
The PPC will be the first college fully owned and run by a provincial government in the Ilocos region.
Some local government units in the region run their own colleges, including University of Eastern Pangasinan in Binalonan town, Urdaneta City University in Urdaneta City, Binalatongan College in San Carlos City, and Bayambang Polytechnic College in Bayambang.
Lambino said that about 10 months of consultation with experts from the different public and private universities, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) were done for the establishment of the school.
He said that the establishment of the PPC was in keeping with Gov. Ramon Guico's commitment to provide accessible education for Pangasinan residents.
The provincial government assured that education will be accessible to all Pangasinenses who are in need of tertiary education.
Unlike most colleges and universities, Lambino said the school will be employing a ladderized system of education in which students or learners will be allowed to progress between Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and College, and vice-versa.
He also said that TESDA programs will be incorporated into PPC course offerings so that after one year or two years, a student can already look for a job and help his or her family.
Lambino said that PPC’s first campus will initially be at the Narciso Ramos Sports and Civic Center here, where there are rooms that can be retrofitted and converted into classrooms.
“But the direction of our governor is to have two or three campuses. One in Lingayen, another one in central Pangasinan, probably San Carlos City, and another one in the eastern part of the province,” said Lambino.
He revealed that PPC students will be full scholars, enjoying free tuition and miscellaneous fees "for as long as they abide with their contracts, academics-wise, behavior-wise."