Local universities and colleges (LUCs) must move beyond expanding academic programs and campuses to become stronger drivers of economic opportunity and community development, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chair Jude Acidre stressed.
Speaking at the 2026 National Conference of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) at Century Park Hotel in Manila, Acidre urged local higher education institutions to build on their communities’ economic strengths, improve educational outcomes, and forge partnerships that translate learning into meaningful opportunities for students and local residents.
“The true contribution of a local university is not measured only by how many graduates it sends into the world, but also by how much stronger its community becomes because of its presence,” the veteran legislator said.
The TINGOG lawmaker emphasized that institutional growth should not be measured merely by the number of degree programs offered, facilities constructed, or students enrolled. Rather, LUCs must develop areas of academic excellence that respond to the distinct needs and economic priorities of the communities they serve.
He cited opportunities for institutions in agricultural communities to specialize in agribusiness and food processing, those in coastal areas to develop expertise in fisheries and environmental management, and those in industrial centers to strengthen programs in engineering technology and manufacturing.
“Every institution should strive to become exceptionally good at something that matters to the community it serves.”
“Not every institution needs to offer everything. But every institution should strive to become exceptionally good at something that matters to the community it serves,” Acidre said.
Beyond developing relevant academic programs, the Higher Ed chair stressed that institutional excellence must be reflected in measurable improvements in student learning, retention, completion, and graduate employment.
He noted that expanding access to higher education remains essential, particularly for students whose financial circumstances and family responsibilities make studying away from home difficult. However, providing opportunities to enroll must be accompanied by sustained efforts to help students complete their studies and acquire competencies that will serve them throughout their lives.
“Such partnerships could help create more opportunities within communities themselves, allowing young Filipinos to pursue productive careers and build their futures without necessarily having to leave their hometowns.”
Acidre also called for stronger collaboration among LUCs, local governments, industries, and other educational institutions to connect classroom instruction with practical experience, support local enterprises, and improve public services.
Such partnerships, he said, could help create more opportunities within communities themselves, allowing young Filipinos to pursue productive careers and build their futures without necessarily having to leave their hometowns.
To support these objectives, Acidre highlighted the House approval on third reading of the proposed Local Universities and Colleges Governance Act, a measure he has championed to strengthen institutional development and governance across the sector.
The bill seeks to establish clearer standards for institutional planning, financial sustainability, academic quality, and administrative leadership while preserving the flexibility of LUCs to respond to local needs.
Among its provisions are five-year institutional development plans, appropriate governing boards, leadership selection processes, and stronger coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“The LUC Governance Act is not simply about regulating local universities and colleges. It is about creating the conditions for them to succeed,” Acidre explained.
He emphasized that the measure, which must still undergo the remaining stages of the legislative process, forms part of a broader effort to strengthen the capacity of local institutions to deliver quality education and contribute to sustainable community development.
Acidre reaffirmed his commitment to working with ALCU, local governments, CHED, and the broader higher education sector to advance reforms that recognize the distinct circumstances of local institutions while holding them to consistent standards of academic excellence and accountability.
“The greatest achievement of a local university or college is not simply to become a bigger institution. It is to become an institution that its community can no longer imagine being without,” he concluded.
