Lawyer: CHED is "singling out" MCC

CEBU, Philippines - Following the closure order issued by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), officials of the Mandaue City College (MCC) is aksing why they are being singled out when there are other public institutions that have not complied with the requirements.

MCC legal counsel Achilles Cañete yesterday showed a letter dated August 8, 2011 from CHED -7 Director Amelia Biglete naming the local colleges in Cebu who “are now in the process of complying with the requirements.”

These are the Cordova Public College in Cordova; Sibonga Community College in Sibonga; Lapu-Lapu City College and Talisay City College. Cañete asked why graduates from these colleges are allowed to take the licensure examination when their requirements are still being processed.

Local colleges in Cebu that have been issued government authority by CHED for their degree programs are the Madridejos Community College; Mandaue City College, Mandaue City Cultural and Sports Complex; and Consolacion Community College.

Biglete said that in the case of Cebu Normal University, Cebu Technological University, and University of the Philippines-Cebu, these are state universities whose operations are governed by their respective Charters.

Biglete’s letter was in response to the request of Jeffbeck Coca, MCC director for legal affairs department, for certification that all higher education programs of the said local colleges had been duly approved by the CHED regional office.

Coca also asked for documents to validate the general enforcement of CHED’s mandate to issue authority to operate higher education programs in the region.

“These will also dispel our belief that you single-out Mandaue City College in the application of your supervisory function enshrined in Republic Act No. 7722,” Coca said in his letter-request dated August 2, 2011. (FREEMAN)