Northern Bukidnon to have its own state college

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

Finally, Northern Bukidnon has its own state college.

Bukidnon 1st-District Representative Malou Acosta-Alba’s Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC) bill has been signed and approved by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Acosta-Alba is the principal author of House Bill 9799 or An Act Converting the Northern Bukidnon Community College (NBCC) in the Municipality of Manolo Fortich, Province of Bukidnon, into a State College to be known as the Northern Bukidnon State College (NBSC), and appropriating funds therefor,

She expresses her earnest thanks and gratitude to Duterte, Senator Jose Miguel Zubiri, Mayor Clive Quiño, and to the officials of the Commission on Higher Education for their support in the passage of HB 8799 to Republic Act No. 11284.

In a press statement, the journey to create a college for Northern Bukidnon started 21 years ago, in 1998, with the filing of HB 3621 during the 11th Congress by then Representative Neric Acosta. However, HB 3621 failed to muster enough support and did not progress beyond the committee level.  HB 3621 was refiled in the 12th AND 13th Congresses as HB 2503 and HB 4930, respectively, but both suffered the same fate as their predecessor,” she said.

Prior to the establishment of NBSC, former Representative and then Manolo Fortich Mayor Socorro Acosta tasked then Manolo Fortich Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Education Chair, and now Mayor Clive D. Quino, to explore the feasibility of establishing a community college.