Polytechnic University of the Philippines

Demystifying the National Polytechnic University Status: What You Need to Know About the NPU Bill

Jan Vincent Lanuza, Feature Story, Communication Management Office

Demystifying the National Polytechnic University Status: What You Need to Know About the NPU Bill

As the House of Representatives approved the first reading of the House Bill Nos. 6266 and 6870, otherwise known as the National Polytechnic University (NPU) Bill, conversation arose both within the University and social media regarding its impact.

Thanks to the University’s recently conducted Town Hall Meeting with members of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Community, discussions were held to highlight the key points of the proposed legislation. The forum also opened the floor for questions and collaborations to help improve the bill and make it inclusive of all PUP stakeholders.

But what exactly does the nearly 20-page NPU Bill do? How will it bring transformative change to the Sintang Paaralan?

NPU Bill in a Nutshell

If passed, the NPU Bill would provide four main benefits:

Institutional Autonomy: As a National Polytechnic University, PUP will be granted greater institutional flexibility. This means the Sintang Paaralan will have the capacity to direct its own teaching, research, and extension thrusts.
Fiscal Autonomy: The University will receive a larger guaranteed budget solely for the institution due to the government’s recognition of PUP as a crucial asset for national development, paving the way for stronger academic and non-academic services.
Enhanced Welfare for Faculty and Administrative Staff: The bill promises an increased focus on staff development and training for administrative employees, alongside the addition of a Board of Regents (BOR) seat for administrative staff to strengthen employee representation.
A Stronger Academic Framework for the Iskolar ng Bayan: As NPU, PUP will have the power to offer higher levels of polytechnic education—such as engineering, architecture, and applied sciences—all while strengthening traditional and liberal arts programs like accountancy, law, education, business, management, and social sciences.

Clearing the Air: Addressing Key Concerns

The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the University’s existing mandate under Presidential Decree No. 1341, which originally converted the Philippine College of Commerce (PCC) into PUP in 1978. Over the decades, the University has outgrown this old mandate, necessitating an update to meet modern societal, economical, technological, academic, and industry demands.

With a bill as monumental as the NPU Bill, it has naturally sparked various debates and heated conversations within the PUP community.

To ensure the community has accurate information, PUP’s Chief Legal Counsel, Atty. Joanna Marie A. Liao, and the Executive Committee have directly addressed the most pressing inquiries:

On Privatization and Commercialization: Atty. Liao clarified that PUP’s academic services will never be commercialized nor privatized. The bill merely allows for the outsourcing of non-academic services (such as facility, health, and food services) and joint ventures, strictly as authorized by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) or the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev). Any such ventures are heavily safeguarded and must undergo rigorous scrutiny and approval based on the standards set by the national government, while also ensuring public consultations.
On Tuition Fee Hikes: The administration firmly assures the community that tuition will not increase. Free tuition for the Iskolar ng Bayan remains strictly protected under Republic Act (RA) No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. Furthermore, any future adjustments to university fees require formal consultation with the BOR, which includes duly elected student representatives.
On the University's Name: Contrary to circulating rumors, PUP will not be renamed. The bill upgrades the University's status to a National Polytechnic University, but the institution will proudly retain the name "Polytechnic University of the Philippines."
On Academic Freedom and Asset Protection: The bill explicitly guarantees PUP’s academic freedom pursuant to the Constitution. Additionally, it will assist the University in securing land titles for the government properties it currently occupies, protecting PUP’s physical assets for future generations.

A United Front for Progress

The push for the NPU Bill is backed by a coalition of PUP stakeholders. Key representatives from the administrative, faculty, and alumni sectors—namely, Unyon ng Nagkakaisang Kawani ng PUP (UNAKA-PUP) President Rodrigo R. Quilingan, Unyon ng mga Guro sa PUP (UGPUP) President Arlan M. Camba, Faculty Regent Prof. Ramir M. Cruz, and Alumni Regent Prof. Jean Paul G. Martirez—have expressed their strong support for the legislation.

Collectively, they emphasize that the bill presents an opportunity to improve employment conditions, accelerate skills development, and secure better compensation, ultimately fostering a more motivated and empowered workforce dedicated to the University's mission.

Prioritizing the Iskolar ng Bayan: Open Dialogue and Reassurance

While the faculty, administrative staff, and alumni have manifested their support for the NPU Bill, it has been met with contrasting opinions from the main stakeholders: the students. Although some agree with the measure, others strongly oppose it, while some remain skeptical, unsure of how it could impact the University.

In various discussions and consultations held across PUP campuses, the primary concern stems from the bill's effect on the students' academic experience, particularly regarding rumors of privatization and commercialization. They fear that this bill could give private companies the power to enter PUP and influence its academic services, potentially causing tuition fee hikes and higher food prices—factors that could risk the Sintang Paaralan’s reputation as the “People’s University.”

Addressing these concerns, the University reiterates its unwavering commitment: the core identity of PUP as the “People’s University” will not be compromised. The safeguards embedded in the bill as discussed by Liao, combined with the provisions under the Free Tertiary Education law, ensure that PUP will remain accessible, affordable, and dedicated to student welfare.

The Legislative Journey Ahead

The bill is currently before the House of Representative Committee on Higher and Technical Education, pending its second and third readings.

Because it is still in the early legislative stage, revisions and improvements are expected. University officials and bill authors are actively working to amend specific portions of the text to ensure precise terminology to achieve its desired results. This includes refining the definition of polytechnic education and strengthening provisions that balance PUP’s new technical mandate with the fair prioritization of its traditional liberal arts programs.

Once approved by the House, the bill will proceed to the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education for another set of hearings. If passed by the Senate, it will be forwarded to the Office of the President for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to sign it into law.

It should be noted that previous iterations of the NPU Bill have been filed in Congress and hurdled public hearings. However, both proposals were vetoed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 and then last year by President Marcos Jr. mainly due to its performance based on the SUC Leveling tool of CHED. PUP has since worked closely with CHED to meet its performance standards while also launching broad scale public consultations to secure further support for the proposed charter.

A New Chapter for the Sintang Paaralan

The National Polytechnic University status represents the PUP administration’s effort to modernize and revise the entire mandate of the Sintang Paaralan. The goal is to evolve alongside the modern trends, while remaining loyal to its promise to Filipinos: providing affordable, inclusive, and quality education.

While no single piece of legislation can solve every challenge overnight, the NPU Bill is a crucial stepping stone. It is a chance to address long-standing needs issues such as increasing the annual budget, improving facility management and health services, resolve the faculty shortage, ensure job security for both faculty and administrative staff, and elevate the quality of learning for students.

If the NPU Bill passes into law, it signifies that the Philippine government recognizes PUP as a vital asset for national development, making it a priority to provide the Sintang Paaralan with the resources it needs to continue the role that it has already been fulfilling for more than 120 years.