The Bicol region now hosts two state universities after President Benigno Aquino 3rd recently signed into law a measure converting Catanduanes State Colleges (CSC) into the Catanduanes State University (CSU).

Gov. Joey Salceda of Albay province reported that the former CSC has a good reputation among residents of the Bicol region. He said that aside from the Bicol University (BU), CSC one of the most sought after state-run college in the region.

Bicol University and the now CSU have produced topnotchers in engineering board examinations.

Records, for one, showed that a CSU graduate and son of a fisherman topped the 2011 board exams for civil engineering with two others garnering the second and third slots.

CSU officials said that the school still charges the lowest in tuition fees with an average of P3,000 per semester compared to other state colleges.

According to CSU president Minerva Morales, President Aquino approved the conversion of CSC into a university on October 19.

The President also approved the conversion of Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges in Naga City to Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology under Republic Act (RA) 10231.

Morales said that the President was initially reluctant on signing the state college’s conversion due to the existing moratorium on the creation of new state colleges and conversion into universities.

However, before the President left for New Zealand last month, the President signed RA 10229, converting CSC into a university.

CSU was initially known as the Catanduanes National Agriculture and Trade School and subsequently renamed as the Catanduanes Agriculture and Industrial College.

In l971 the same institution was renamed as the CSC through the initiative of the late lawmaker Jose Alberto, who is said to be responsible for the construction of the present sprawling 120-hectare school facilities.

Gov. Joseph Cua of Catanduanes province said that with the conversion, more enrollees from other Bicol provinces are expected to enroll in the institution, adding to the present student population currently tallied at around 8,000.