The forerunner of local colleges and universities or LCUs are the community schools which usually function as elementary or secondary schools at daytime and, toward the end of the day, convert into a
community college. This type of educational institution were limited to the old Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) infrastructure, while LCUs are of recent origin. For more than two decades, the PLM was the only local university in the country until the creation of other local universities and colleges through the enactment and implementation of the
Republic Act 7160, also known as the "Local Government Code of 1991," and the
Republic Act 7796, or the
Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994. With an increased share of taxes from 11% to 40% given by the national government units plus their own income as
highly urbanized cities or
municipalities, a good number of LGUs decided to put up their own LCUs. LGUs are aware that while it is easy even for poor families to send their children to elementary and high school because costs are relatively lower, sending them to college poses a big problem. It is in this light that local government units are inspired to establish and maintain institutions of higher learning (HEIs) in their own localities. Through an LCU, high school graduates from poor families can earn a three- to six-month course certificate, two-year associate degree, or a four-year Baccalaureate degree paying only minimal, if any, tuition fee. This is exemplified by the
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila,
Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig, and the
University of Makati, which have graduated deserving students from low-income families. ==Naming==