City college now closer to reality

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella’s plan to create the Cebu City College is set to take off once an ordinance is drafted to that effect.

The mayor has specifically asked an ally at the City Council, Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, to draft the measure, which is the first step to the city college’s establishment.

“We have money for that. It would not be that much, especially that there’s already an existing building that we are looking at now as an interim city college building,” Labella told reporters yesterday, not disclosing further details about the proposed site.

Last Tuesday afternoon, Labella met with Commission on Higher Education-7 Director Maximo Aljibe to discuss the city’s desire to put up its own college.

Labella said Aljibe vowed to assist the city government in this endeavor.

“They promised us that they will be very cooperative and happy that at long last, Cebu City has decided to have its own Cebu City College. According to the director, he has been in so many regions and even the smallest cities in Mindanao, they have already respective colleges,” the mayor said.

Labella said the area being eyed for the college already has a structure but needs renovation.

“What we only have to produce is the college, the institution, the building, the structure, the infrastructure. But for those students who want to enroll in the college, which will be owned by the local government unit, it would be the national government through the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) which will provide the tuition fees,” he said.

He said he already asked Garcia to draft and sponsor the ordinance so the city can work on the other requirements needed.

The establishment of a city college is among the campaign promises of Labella and part of his 10-point agenda to be achieved while at helm at the City Hall.

Among the degree programs to be offered are Information Technology and Hotel and Restaurant Management, among others, as these are two of the most in-demand programs for a growing city like Cebu.

Labella said the city college will also offer health service providing courses and other vocational courses.

“There’s one place that would be like an interim for a start. Eventually, we will look for a bigger place because there’s also an area requirement. But the area requirement, according to the regional director, can be waived, especially upon satisfactory explanation of the local government taking into consideration the limited space available like the highly urbanized city,” he said. (FREEMAN)