Manila, July 11 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vetoed the bill amending the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) charter to declare it as National Polytechnic University, Malacanang announced on Friday.

"Ang sinasabi pong bill ay na-veto ng Pangulo (The bill in question was vetoed by the President)," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing, when asked to confirm if the proposed measure had already lapsed into law.

Castro said the bill was vetoed because of non-compliance with the assessment of the PUP.

Marcos, nevertheless, remains optimistic that the PUP would be recognized as a national polytechnic university, Castro said.

"Nagkaroon po ng direktiba noon pa pong 2016 na dapat magkaroon ng ass...