Pampanga Third District congressman and House Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. has filed a bill seeking to convert San Fernando’s City College into a state college.

Gonzales filed House Bill No. 4079 on Wednesday, August 24, to push for the conversion of the city college and its integration as a regular campus of the Don Honorio Ventura State University (DHVSU).

In his explanatory note, Gonzales said the measure will ensure a strong administrative supervision of DHVSU over the college and allocation of appropriate funds by the national government.

Established in 2008 through City Ordinance No. 2008-018, the City College of San Fernando currently offers five courses: BS Information Technology; BS Accounting Technology; Bachelor in Business Administration; and Bachelor in Elementary and Secondary Education.

As of 2021, 800 students have enrolled at the institution.

“But with the growing number of learners within the Province of Pampanga and due to the rising cost of living not seen in decades, there is an urgent need to expand institutions that will provide free quality education to the general public,” Gonzales said.

Once approved into law, the measure will allow easy access to benefits such as cash assistance to deserving students and free tuition to anyone enrolled in State Universities and Colleges regardless of social standing.

The college’s intergration to DHVSU on the other hand, will guarantee appropriate budgetary
support from the national government through its inclusion in the annual General Appropriations Act.

This will be even save the local government some P100 million from the conversion of the college into a separate state college—a large amount of money the local government unit could instead use for other valuable programs.

Gonzales stressed, “It should be noted that the ownership of the parcel of lands in which the City College of San Fernando is located shall remain with the local government of the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The possession of the propertv. meanwhile. shall be in the nature of usufruct.”