By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya filed a bill before the House of Representatives last week, seeking the creation of Sum-ag State College.

Based on documents forwarded to local media, House Bill No. 7961, cites a constitutional mandate to “protect and promote the rights of all citizens to quality education” in the argument for the school’s creation.

The college would be established by converting Sum-ag National High School (SNHS).

Gasataya pointed out, SNHS is the third-largest public secondary school in Bacolod City, with a population of 4,000 students.

He claimed converting SNHS would not only benefit students from the city, but also from neighboring cities and municipalities, especially those located in the southern part of Negros Occidental.

The legislator also proposed college courses comprised of science and technology by focusing on agricultural and technological education, as well as offering masters and doctoral degrees./DGB, WDJ