City takes first step for Cebu City College

CEBU, Philippines —  The new administration in Cebu City is taking the first step to establishing the Cebu City College.

Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, an ally of Mayor Edgardo Labella, has proposed an ordinance creating the Cebu City College (CCC) to promote the right of all Cebuanos to quality education at all levels.

The proposed ordinance, if approved, will set the policies, standards, and guidelines that will govern the establishment of the college in accordance with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)’s Memorandum Order 32 series of 2006.

“Pursuant to CHED Memorandum Order NO. 32, series of 2006 entitled ‘Policies, Standards and Guidelines on the Establishment and Operation of Local Colleges and Universities’ and pursuant to Commission en Banc resolution NO. 868 series of 2006, local ordinance is needed for the establishment of a city college,” the proposal reads.

Garcia referred his proposed ordinance to the City Council’s committee on laws, ordinances, and styling for comments and recommendations.

Garcia is proposing that a Board of Trustees should govern the proposed CCC.

The BOT shall be composed of the city mayor as chairman; college president as vice chairman; and seven members that will include, but not limited to the president of the faculty association; president of the supreme student government/council; president of the alumni association; chairman of the City Council’s committee on education; a representative of CHED; a representative of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities; and a representative of an accredited business or industry sector.

The governing board will have several functions such as determining the fees and other school changes subject to the policies of CHED; appointing the college president; determining or approving curricular programs and course offerings in response to the needs and demands of the community; developing academic arrangements and linkages for institutional capacity building; and establishing policies, guidelines and procedures for participative decision-making.

Section 13 of the proposed ordinance states that the city government shall include in its annual budget the funding for the operation and maintenance of the CCC.

Garcia’s proposal is among the 10 priorities of Labella who is in his first term as mayor.

Labella, in earlier interviews, said some of the degree programs that will be offered in the city college include information technology and hotel and restaurant management.

Councilor Joy Augustus Young asked Garcia to review an existing ordinance, City Ordinance 2320, which reportedly created the Cebu City College years ago. —  JMO (FREEMAN)