As ALCU reaches its 14 years of existence, it encounters a lot of challenges.  Since its historic days on September 4, 1996 when nine Mayors of Metro Manila signed a covenant recognizing the importance of education in the life of a nation, up to this time, it has gone a long way of serving its member institutions aiming at quality and excellence in higher education.

The then-President of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila spearheaded the organization of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) composed of nine Charter Schools namely: Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM); City College of Manila (CCM); University of Makati (UMak); University of Caloocan City (UCC); City of Malabon University (CMU); Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun); Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasay (PLPasay); Navotas Polytechnic College (NPC); and Valenzuela Polytechnic College (VPC).  It was on September 9, 1996 that its Constitution and By-Laws was filed before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) which was approved a day after, thereby giving the official recognition of its existence.

Like a plant that would grow sturdy and bear its sweet fruit, it has grown bigger and expanded its horizon.  Hence, the addition of more members to its family, namely: Dr. Filemon C. Aguilar Memorial College (DFCAM); Parañaque City College of Science and Technology (PCCST); Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Pasig (PLPasig); Gordon College (GC); Urdaneta City University (UCU); Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina (PLMar); and Pamantasan ng Cabuyao (PnC). Indeed, ALCU’s impact on the upliftment of educational leverage and development opportunities on the life of a local community and its people became a byword across the nation, thereby eliciting calls into action and initiatives from local leaders of national stature to seize such opportunities of  development.

As a family, it needs a father figure which would nurture and support the needs and aspirations of the Association. The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, being the most well-anchored of all the member-schools, took the role of a father to all its members. Practically, every time a member needs assistance, PLM always lend a helping hand and encouragement as it seeks to infuse the same degree of quality and excellence that it so graciously epitomizes, -- ready to rush to its members’ aid to fix its resolve to move towards the apex of quality education.