MANILA — Deputy Speaker Evelina Escudero on Thursday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for signing into law Republic Act 11088, or an act converting the Sorsogon State College into a state university to be known as Sorsogon State University (SSU), starting Oct. 26.
Escudero, who represents the first district of Sorsogon, said the SSU will become the very first university in the province. Duterte signed RA 11088 on October 11.
“On behalf of all Sorsoganons, we thank President Duterte for signing this bill into law. It is a well-deserved recognition for an institution that continuously produces top-notch graduates and has been a constant source of pride for the province,” Escudero said.
Escudero said SSU was founded in 1907 as the Sorsogon Trade School, and was converted to Sorsogon College of Arts and Trades by virtue of RA 704 in 1952 before becoming a state college in 1993.
The Sorsogon lawmaker cited the SSC for passing the CHED’s Level III Accreditation, meeting the ratio of qualified full-time faculty, housing an adequate library, and having relevant linkages, academic policies, systems, and processes.
“I persistently pushed for the conversion because SSC’s credentials earned it. As a representative, it is my mandate to bring my constituents the quality education they deserve and support the initiatives that will help them prosper as an institution,” she said.
Under the new law, the SSU shall primarily provide advance and higher professional, technical, and special instructions in education and technology, engineering and architecture, public administration and management, accountancy, economics and finance, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, arts and sciences, maritime education, peace and security courses and other related fields of study.
It shall also undertake research and extension, as well as income generation programs for the sustainable development of the province of Sorsogon. (Filane Mikee Cervantes/PNA)
