𝑺𝒆𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑨𝒑𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑱𝑯𝑪𝑺𝑪 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒁𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝑺𝒖𝒓 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒚

In a landmark move for higher education in Zamboanga del Sur, the Senate officially approved the third and final reading of 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐍𝐨. 𝟗𝟑𝟏𝟓 on 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓, with 𝟐𝟏 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐯𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨 𝐚𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. The bill paves the way for the conversion of 𝐉.𝐇. 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 (𝐉𝐇𝐂𝐒𝐂) in Barangay Mati, Municipality of San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur, into a full-fledged state university to be known as 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 (𝐙𝐃𝐒𝐒𝐔).

The bill’s successful passage is primarily credited to the determined leadership of 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐂. 𝐘𝐮, who authored the bill during her term as Congresswoman and is now the newly elected 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐙𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐫, along with 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐞𝐲𝐳𝐞𝐥 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐂. 𝐘𝐮, whose joint efforts have been instrumental in advancing the province’s educational vision.

Special thanks to 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨, Chair of the Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, and 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐨 for supporting JHCSC’s journey toward universityhood. Additionally, the legislation was sponsored and guided through the Senate by former Committee Chair 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐳 𝐄𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐨, whose leadership was key in advancing the measure.

The institution is now preparing to satisfy the remaining requirements before it can officially operate as a university. Among these is securing the Certificates of Program Compliance (COPC) from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). These certifications will validate that ZDSSU’s academic programs meet national quality standards, enabling the institution to assume its university status fully.

The remarkable progress toward university status would not have been possible without the exemplary leadership of 𝐉𝐇𝐂𝐒𝐂 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐫. 𝐄𝐝𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐨 𝐇. 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬. Under his visionary guidance, the institution has strengthened its academic programs, enhanced research capabilities, and forged strategic partnerships that have elevated its profile regionally and nationally.

With its legal conversion now secured, Zamboanga del Sur stands on the brink of a new era in education—one marked by broader access to quality learning, expanded academic offerings, and a stronger, more empowered future for the province’s youth and communities.