Ouano supports bill for Cordova State College

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Thadeo Ouano is pushing for a resolution supporting the House Bill introduced by 6th District Rep. Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Qui-sumbing converting Cordova Local College into Cordova State College.

Ouano is also urging other congressmen from Cebu who have local colleges in their respective districts to initiate similar bills.

The PB member sees the importance of converting a public or locally funded college into a state college to ensure fiscal support and to enhance its academic standards.

These local state colleges make accessible and affordable quality education for poor students.

"Education is a solution but pursuing a college degree is almost impossible for those students who belong to a low income family and out of ten students in elementary only one can pursue and obtain a degree," Ouano said in his proposed resolution.

Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, for her part, said that the Province's Cebu Tertiary Education Assistance Program (CTEAP) needs five more scholars but they only choose poor but deserving students.

CTEAP has already 288 scholars, 85 of whom are new students in different colleges in the city and in the province.

The governor said that everyone faces challenges but there are those who really excel despite their financial incapability.

"Pareho ang tanan nga nag-atubang ug hagit but there are those who excel. My challenge is to push that bar for a constant challenge of excellence," she said.

As much as possible, she said, the government needs to open doors for deserving students who wish to be a college degree holder.

Local or public colleges subsidized by the LGU-concerned plays a unique and prominent role in the education of many students in the country, according to Ouano, since they "fulfill the promise of democracy that is equal opportunity for social and economic mobility."

Ouano also commends Quisumbing for making education as one of his priorities. (FREEMAN)