The façade of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Manila Campus on July 14, 2022. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA – The House of Representatives on Monday approved on third and final reading a proposed law strengthening the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) and declaring it as a National Polytechnic University.

Voting 196-0-3, House lawmakers passed House Bill No. 11341 or the proposed Revised Polytechnic University of the Philippines Charter.

Under the measure, PUP will be strengthened as the country’s National Polytechnic University, providing support to other polytechnic state universities and colleges in the country “in the development and delivery of professional and technical programs.”

“As the National Polytechnic University, the PUP shall primarily offer higher occupational, technical, and professional instruction and training programs in the fields of engineering and architecture, applied sciences and other polytechnic programs,” the bill read.

PUP, according to the proposed measure, may create regular and extension campuses as long as the required land to be used as a campus site and its infrastructure were already in place “prior to the effectivity of the establishment and operation of the new campus.”

The university should also ensure that PUP will meet the minimum requirements of the Commission on Higher Education on establishing the operation of regular and extension campuses.

The PUP may open extension classes in consortium with other academic institutions, as it may deem necessary, to improve access to quality education, promote innovation and progress in the academe, and advance its research capabilities, subject to applicable memoranda with other institutions: Provided, That the PUP shall comply with the policies, standards, and guidelines of the CHED for the operation of extension classes,” the bill read.

“The existing reasonably-sized laboratory junior and senior high school shall continue to operate under the supervision of the College of Education of the PUP to serve the in-campus requirements of its students,” it added.

On Jan. 12, around 22,000 took the PUP College Entrance Test for Academic year 2025 to 2026. The exam results will be released in June this year.

According to the university, it has more than 20 campuses serving 80,000 students.