THE province of Batangas has in the past few days, scored twin achievements of sorts as Congress passed a bill declaring San Jose town as the country’s “Egg Capital” even as it also certified a measure declaring Batangas State University as National Engineering University.
These are exceptional feats bestowed to a province in the first few days of February 2022.
Plaudits
And Batangas Fourth Legislative District Congresswoman Lianda "Siling Labuyo" Bolilia was the first to give plaudits to Batangas’ double-celebration.
“Congratulations po sa bayan ng San Jose, dahil ngayong gabi (Feb. 2, 2022) ay tuluyan nang naipasa ang aking panukalang batas na "AN ACT DECLARING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SAN JOSE PROVINCE OF BATANGAS AS THE EGG BASKET OF THE PHILIPPINES, " she said.
Binabati ko din po ang Batangas State University at ang mga kapwa ko Batangueno dahil naaprubahan na ngayong gabi din ang panukalang batas, kung saan ay isa din tayo sa nag-akda at nagsulong, ang "AN ACT DECLARING THE BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY AS THE NATIONAL ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY."
First in the country
Batangas State University is a Level IV state university in the province of Batangas established in 1903.
BSU is the first and thus far the only state university in the Philippines with engineering, IT, and computer science programs accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) – Engineering Accreditation Commission and Computing Accreditation Commission.
With 15 development centers, it is recognized by the Regional Development Council of Region IV-A as the Regional Center for Technology Business Incubation and Development, and as the Regional Center for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Environment Research.
The university's Electronics Engineering program is designated by CHED as a National Center of Excellence, and its Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Development Communication, and Teacher Education programs are national Centers of Development.
It has also maintained high academic standards in architecture, industrial technology, computing sciences, business, agriculture, allied health, and the social sciences. It received ISO 9001:2015 certification from TÜV Rheinland Philippines, Inc., and is host to the first China-Philippines Silk Road Institute in the country.
BSU has over 40,000 students facilitated by 1,700 faculty and staff in 11 campuses, Batangas State University remains steadfast in its adherence to international standards. It was given a three-star rating by Quacquarelli Symonds Stars University rating, and is part of the Top Universities list.
Through Proclamation No. 947, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte also designated BSU Knowledge, Innovation, and Science Technology or KIST Park as a Special Economic Zone. It is the first KIST Park registered by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority or PEZA.
The Senate unanimously voted 23-0-0 and passed on Monday (January 31, 2022) on third and final reading the bill seeking the declaration of San Jose, Batangas as the “Egg Basket” Capital of the Philippines.
Sen. Cynthia Villar, the chairperson of the Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform and author of Senate Bill No. (SBN) 2044 or the Egg Basket Act, said the declaration is a recognition of the town’s achievements and industriousness of its people.
“Starting as a backyard industry in the 60s, San Jose, Batangas took the lead and turned it into one of the most successful, if not the most successful, industry with the farmers evolving into agri-entrepreneurs and who continuously help innovate the agricultural practices in the small town,” Villar said.
Villar noted that San Jose, a first-class municipality, has the highest egg production of at least 70,000 tons of eggs a year.
In 2019, the municipality contributed 12 percent to the country’s egg basket.
The per capita egg consumption in the country, as of 2020, is approximately 13.74 kilograms or 229 pieces a year.
Eggs topped the most consumed protein-rich food in the Philippines.
SBN 2044 was co-authored by Sens. Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Joel Villanueva and co-sponsored by Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto.