Luigi pushing for early approval of school bill

CEBU, Philippines - Sixth district Rep. Luigi Quisumbing has assured Consolacion town Mayor Teresa Alegado he will do everything to hasten the approval of House Bill 5201, which seeks the conversion of the Consolacion Community College into a state college.

As soon as the community college becomes the Consolacion State College, the town will get a subsidy from the national government that would be used to operate it. Nevertheless, Alegado said the town will continue to pour money into the school through its scholarship program.

The community college had no budget when it opened in June last year but Alegado allocated P6 million when she became mayor, a burden on the town's coffers considering that it has other priorities that need funding.

Quisumbing said the change in the school's status would ensure the school's fiscal autonomy, enhance academic standards, and provide poor but deserving students access to quality education.

Quisumbing hopes that with sufficient national funding, the college can compete with other similar schools in the municipality and neighboring areas.

At present, the school has a student population of 800.

The school acquired a clearance to operate from the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) in October 29 last year.