Senate panel pushes stricter standards, national framework for local colleges

The Senate Committee on Higher and Technical-Vocational Education is calling for sweeping reforms to strengthen oversight and improve the quality of local universities and colleges (LUCs) amid rapid sector growth and inconsistent academic standards.

Governance Gaps Amid Rapid Growth

Chaired by Senator Loren Legarda, a committee hearing on April 23 highlighted significant governance gaps within LUCs, which are established and funded by local government units (LGUs). Lawmakers and education officials emphasized the urgent need for a unified national framework to ensure accountability.

Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) indicates that LUCs are currently the fastest-growing segment of the higher education system. This trend reflects an increasing reliance on locally run institutions for tertiary education access.

Compliance and Quality Concerns

Despite the increase in enrollment, oversight remains inconsistent across the sector. Of the 152 LUCs listed by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), only 107 have been granted Institutional Recognition for Academic Year 2024–2025.

EDCOM 2 Commissioner Sherwin Gatchalian warned that a significant portion of these institutions may be operating below required quality benchmarks. Gatchalian noted that the 34 percent of LUCs lacking recognition face issues with quality and CHED compliance, effectively barring them from accessing free higher education.

Structural and Financial Constraints

Officials identified systemic constraints affecting performance, specifically regarding faculty compensation. EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee explained that salaries in LUCs are tied to the income classification of their respective LGUs.

Yee stated that this creates a cycle where poorer areas struggle to attract qualified educators, as some instructors earn significantly less than those at state universities. He further noted that compliance with CHED standards has historically been weak, with many LUCs only seeking recognition after the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act tied subsidies to quality assurance.

The commission also pointed out that the legal frameworks governing LUCs—the Local Government Code of 1991 and Batas Pambansa Blg. 232—are outdated and insufficient for current challenges.

Push for Nationwide Standards

CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis supported proposals to implement stricter, standards-based pathways for development, arguing that public support must be contingent on demonstrated capacity.

Senator Legarda stated that the proposed measures would establish mandatory national guidelines for the creation and operation of LUCs. These guidelines would include minimum requirements that LGUs must meet before establishing an institution to ensure quality standards are met from the outset.