BORONGAN CITY, Eastern Samar — Eastern Samar Rep. Christopher Sheen Gonzales is pushing for the expansion of higher education access in the province through the establishment of full campuses of Eastern Samar State University (ESSU) in the towns of Balangiga and Arteche.
Gonzales, who serves as House Assistant Minority Leader, recently filed two measures—House Bill No. 3135 seeking the creation of an ESSU campus in Balangiga, and House Bill No. 3136 proposing the conversion of the existing ESSU–Arteche extension unit into a regular campus.
House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan co-authored both bills.
“These proposals aim to make higher education more accessible to students in these areas, especially those who cannot afford to study far from home,” Gonzales said. “We are fulfilling our duty to expand access to quality education, particularly in underserved communities.”
Under the proposed legislation, the campuses would be authorized to offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as technical-vocational courses. They would also conduct research and implement extension services and community development projects aligned with ESSU’s institutional mandate.
Gonzales emphasized that local campuses would not only benefit families financially but also help build a pool of homegrown professionals who can contribute to regional development.
“Education is a long-term investment in our people. These campuses will help drive Eastern Samar’s progress by training professionals who understand the needs of their communities,” he said.
ESSU is the lone state university in the province and currently serves close to 25,000 students with a faculty roster of 721. Its main campus is in Borongan City, with satellite campuses in Can-avid, Guiuan, Maydolong, and Salcedo. Balangiga and Arteche currently host ESSU extension units, which operate on limited resources and course offerings.
If approved, the bills would formalize and expand the presence of ESSU in these two municipalities, potentially reducing dropout rates and easing the educational burden on low-income families.
via Ricky Bautista
