๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ | ๐๐'๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐
In a significant step toward institutional transformation, the Committee on Education of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) of the Province of Tarlac has granted its endorsement for House Bill No. 2690, which seeks to rename the Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) to the Tarlac Science, Technology, and Agricultural University (TSTAU).ย
The endorsement followed a committee hearing held on 9 December, where University officials presented the rationale for the proposed changes. This local government support is a crucial prerequisite as the bill advances through the legislative process in the House of Representatives.
During the hearing, TAU President Dr. Silverio Ramon DC. Salunson was represented by Executive Secretary Mr. Orlando J. Locading Jr. and Board Secretary Mr. Sonny A. Santos. They detailed the bill's key provisions, which go beyond a simple name change. The proposed charter includes a reorganization of the University's governing board to include regional directors from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Health (DOH), emphasizing its expanded mandate. It also seeks to secure land titles for all University properties.
The proposed legislation, introduced by Tarlac 1st District Representative Jaime Eduardo Marc D. Cojuangco, aims to formally recognize TAUโs substantial evolution beyond its agricultural roots. Since its conversion to a University in 2016, TAU has expanded its academic portfolio. Thus, advocates argue that the current name no longer reflects this comprehensive and multidisciplinary nature, potentially limiting its branding and strategic partnerships.
The committee members, upon reviewing the exhaustive explanatory note and the detailed amendments within the bill, recognized the alignment of the proposed changes with regional and national development goals. They acknowledged that a University named TSTAU would better attract students and faculty across a wider spectrum of disciplines, thereby increasing its contribution to the skilled workforce in Central Luzon. The endorsement signals the provincial government's belief in the University's potential as a catalyst for innovation beyond the agricultural sector.
With the provincial committee's support, the bill now carries reinforced legitimacy as it moves forward in both houses of Congress. The next stages involve further deliberations and potential amendments in the House committee and plenary sessions, followed by a parallel process in the Senate. The proposed transitory provision ensures continuity by appointing the incumbent president, Dr. Salunson, as the first president under the new charter should the bill become law.
This marks a pivotal moment for TAU, setting the stage for an enhanced identity and institutional capacity. The renaming to TSTAU is envisioned to finally crystallize its decade-long growth, positioning it as a premier multidisciplinary smart state university in the region, fully equipped to address the educational and societal challenges of the future.
#SmartTAU #GreenandGlobal #HB2690 #TSTAU #SP #Tarlac #SDG4 #SDG11 #SDG16 #SDG17
Article | Information Unit
Photos | Presidential Management Staff
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