Luigi to file bill to make Cordova Public College into state school

CEBU, Philippines - Sixth District Representative Gabriel Luis "Luigi" Quisumbing will be filing a bill to convert the Cordova Public College into a state college.

Speaking during the turnover of projects to Cordova, Quisumbing said there is a need to convert the existing college into a state college to ensure its fiscal autonomy and enhance its academic standards.

With a budget from the national government, the school would then open more doors to poor but deserving students in Cordova, the neighboring city of Lapu-Lapu, and the entire Mactan Island at large.

The Municipality of Cordova is a third class municipality with around 60,000 residents, however, only 10 percent of the town's high school graduates get to pursue a college education every year. A small percentage, Quisumbing said, end up getting low-income employment with no security of tenure at the nearby export processing zone and factories.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy himself admitted that the town's resources are not enough to upgrade the college.

Sitoy said it was almost impossible for high school graduates in Cordova to pursue college in previous years, considering the high cost of transportation, education and cost of living in cities like Mandaue City and Cebu City where universities are.

The municipality eventually managed to establish the Cordova Public College to provide accessible and affordable tertiary, vocational and technical education to high school graduates there.

Quisumbing said converting the existing college into a state college would secure adequate support and appropriate funds that would ensure the necessary facility, personnel and instructional materials.   (THE FREEMAN NEWS)