THE Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU) in Pampanga may yet be renamed as Pampanga State University.
This after the House of Representatives approved House Bill 9989 which also expands the school’s curricular courses, as well as its governing board.
Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, Jr. authored the bill which said had the support of House Martin Romualdez whose mother, Juliette Gomez-Romualdez, traces her roots to Mabalacat City.
Gonzales said renaming DHVSU as Pampanga State University will be the school’s answer to the “increasing challenges of modern tertiary education.” He said this initiative also aims to support the socioeconomic development of the province and Central Luzon.
Pampanga State University will have its main campus in Bacolor town. It will also have satellite campuses spread across the towns of Mexico, Porac, Sto. Tomas, Lubao, Candaba, Apalit, Sta. Rita, Floridablanca, Guagua, and Sasmuan, according to HB 9989.
Additionally, the university is empowered to establish new branches or extension campuses in collaboration with other academic institutions to enhance accessibility and foster innovation.
Pampanga State University will offer a diverse array of programs, including education, engineering, arts and humanities, information and communications technology (ICT), healthcare, and more, while also prioritizing research and extension services to support regional development initiatives.
The bill also delineates the institutional framework of Pampanga State University, outlining the roles and responsibilities of its governing bodies and officers. Further, it ensures the university’s academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and certain tax exemptions, while securing funding through the national budget.
HB 9989 was filed last Feb. 27 and approved on third reading last March 12. It was transmitted to and received by the Senate last March 13. Aside from Gonzales, 23 other representatives were credited as principal authors of the bill.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline House bill renames DHVSU as Pampanga State University