By April Therese Tan
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Toledo City and three towns in Cebu’s 3rd district now have their own Cebu Technological University (CTU) regular campuses.
This is after the bills authored by Deputy Speaker Pablo John Garcia, which were approved by the Lower House and the Senate, lapsed into law last month.
The other three CTU campuses are in Pinamungajan, Asturias, and Balamban.
“I am overjoyed to learn nga finally, nahimo na gyung balaod ang paghimog regular CTU Campuses sa tulo ka mga lungsod ug usa ka dakbayan sa atong distrito. The amount needed for their operation will be included in the national annual budget. We can just imagine how many families will benefit from a more accessible education for the youth. Dili na kinahanglan moadto sa Cebu City,” said Garcia in a statement.
Signed by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, these bills lapsed into law last June: Republic Act 11787 (CTU Pinamungajan Campus Act), Republic Act 11788 (CTU Toledo Campus and CTU Asturias Campus Act) and Republic Act 11757 (CTU Balamban Campus Act).
For Garcia, who is starting a fresh term after running unopposed for Cebu’s third district congressional seat last May, education has always been his top priority among his programs.
He had filed House Bill No. 9075 converting the satellite campus for Balamban and House Bill No. 9150 for the satellite campus in Pinamungajan.
He also filed House Bill 9180 establishing the state-owned universities in Toledo City and Asturias.
With the passage of these laws, six of the seven local government units in the 3rd district now have a CTU regular campus. -(April Therese Tan)