House Bill establishing VSU satellite campus in Hilongos secures committee approval

House Bill (HB) No. 2046, which seeks to establish a VSU satellite campus in Hilongos, Leyte, gained approval from the House Committee on Higher Education and Technical Education on November 19, 2025, during the 20th Congress’ first Regular Session in Quezon City.

Leyte Fifth District Representative Carl Nicolas C. Cari, the main proponent of the bill, stressed that establishing a VSU satellite campus would help bring quality education closer to local communities, making it accessible to pursue college without the need of travelling far.

“This marks a major step forward in providing accessible and quality university education for Hilongos and its neighboring communities”, Congressman Cari said in a statement posted on his official Facebook page.

HB 2046 is intended to serve students who are unable to travel far for college due to family obligations, financial constraints, or other factors, and to provide quality education in response to global needs.

The young lawmaker also expressed confidence in VSU’s capability to establish a satellite campus in Hilongos, noting the university’s 3-star ranking by the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), an international assessment body which recognized VSU for its strong research work and for producing graduates who are ready to compete on a global stage.

Congressman Cari also expressed his gratitude to House Committee Chairperson Rep. Jude A. Acidre for acknowledging the importance of the proposed measure and supporting its passage at the committee level.

VSU officials likewise showed strong support for the proposed satellite campus, with Vice President for Planning and Development Dr. Glenn G. Pajares and Vice President for Administration and Finance Dr. Moises Neil V. Seriño represented VSU during the committee meeting.

VSU President Dr. Prose Ivy G. Yepes is equally grateful for the approval of proposed legislation at the committee level and highlighted its importance to VSU’s ongoing effort to expand quality education across the region.

“I am grateful and excited to have this bill be signed into law so that we can further strengthen our commitment to providing top-notch and quality higher education in Eastern Visayas and in the country," President Yepes said.

HB 2046 is a refiled version of HB No. 4292, first introduced by Congressman Cari during the 19th Congress. The previous version of the bill was given an initial approval on March 18, 2024, but it did not make it to final passage before the session ended.

Congressman Cari reintroduced the bill in the current Congress to continue its effort in improving educational accessibility in the district.

Following its approval at the committee level, the HB 2046 will proceed to the House plenary for further deliberations and voting. If gained approval from the lower chamber, the bill will undergo further deliberations at the Senate before it will be signed into law by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Once approved into law, the VSU Hilongos campus will be integrated into the VSU system and is expected to offer various academic programs aligned with the university’s standards in instructions, research, and community engagement, which will strengthen local development and provide long-term benefits to the Municipality of Hilongos and the entire Fifth District of Leyte.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.

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