House of Representatives (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)

The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure seeking to rename the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) in Bacolor, Pampanga into the Pampanga State University.

Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga 3rd district Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr., who is principal author of House Bill (HB) No. 9989, says the rechristening of DHVSU is the school’s answer to the “increasing challenges of modern tertiary education”.

In a statement on Friday, March 15, Gonzales noted that the renaming of the university was also an initiative of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“We thank him for his support. He considers himself a Kapampangan. His mother, Madam Juliette Gomez-Romualdez, traces her roots to Mabalacat City,” he explained.

The measure also expands the university’s curricular offerings and its governing board.

“There is a need to further strengthen and consolidate the synergy of DHVSU and its campuses. Hence, its conversion to a university system will greatly enhance the university’s delivery of quality education, and in turn support the socio-economic development of the province of Pampanga and Central Luzon,” said Gonzales.

As stated in the bill, the main campus of Pampanga State University shall be in the town of Bacolor. This shall also comprised campuses in the towns of Mexico, Porac, Sto. Tomas, Lubao, Candaba, Apalit, Sta. Rita, Floridablanca, Guagua, and Sasmuan.

Furthermore, this also allows the university to “open new branches or extension campuses in consortium with other academic institutions as it may deem necessary, to improve access to quality education, promote innovation and progress in the academe, and advance its research capabilities, subject to applicable arrangements with other institutions”.

Its board of regents, meanwhile, will be headed by the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). The university president will be the vice chairperson.

The university’s general mandate is to provide advanced instruction and professional training in education, engineering, science and technology, arts and humanities, information and communications technology, liberal arts, medical and health-related programs, and other relevant fields of study.

Gonzales previously authored a bill that was enacted into law: the bill renaming Don Honorio Ventura Technological State University (DHVTSU) into DHVSU.

DHVSU is named after Honorio Ventura, a former governor of Pampanga.