PBBM vetoes bill declaring PUP as National Polytechnic University

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. vetoed the bill seeking to declare the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) as the National Polytechnic University (NPU).

The Palace cited PUP's "low performance in the 2016 State Universities and Colleges (SUC) leveling exercise" as the primary reason for the veto.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) stated that PUP only received a Level II rating in 2016, which is lower than other SUCs that achieved higher ratings.

The veto message also noted that a reassessment of PUP, suggested by a former president to evaluate its suitability for National University status, was never conducted.

PUP described the veto as a rejection of the urgent call to expand access to quality, inclusive, and relevant public higher education.

The university administration argued that the veto message downplays PUP's achievements and its 120-year legacy.

Senator Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, the bill's author, expressed his "disheartened" reaction to the veto.

President Marcos expressed hope that PUP can still achieve national university status once all requirements are met.