Abra to have its own state university soon

BANGUED, Philippines — Abra will have its own university soon.

The House of Representatives has passed House Bill 8917 seeking to convert the Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST) into a state university, which will then be called The University of Abra.

The conversion of ASIST into The University of Abra will open up a number of opportunities for the insitution, which will benefit students and the entire province of Abra, according to Abra Rep. Joseph Sto Niño Bernos, the principal author of the bill.

“It will also greatly improve the quality of teaching in the state education institution, even the research output it will produce for the predominantly agricultural communities of Abra,” Bernos said.

The Senate now only needs to approve the bill, which will then be forwarded to President Duterte, according to the lawmaker.

“This is a victory for the people of Abra, especially the youth, who wished for quality and accessible college education,” he said.

ASIST celebrated its 110th founding anniversary on Dec. 18.  It also got its  ISO 9001:2015 Stage 2 Certification Audit on Dec. 27.