‘Talisaynon school, Talisaynon head’

CEBU, Philippines - For former Cebu first district congressman Eduardo Gullas, a Talisaynon should run the Talisay City College as president, rather than someone from outside the city.

"I have nothing against anyone from Mandaue. I have the highest respect to Mandauehanons, pero nangong mo-import pa man ta og taga-Mandaue? Pagkadaghan og maayong laki nga taga-Talisay," said Gullas, who spearheaded the creation of  TCC when he was still the mayor in 2001.       

Paulus Cañete, through an executive order issued by Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, has been appointed as the new TCC president, a move which acting president Ritchel Bacaltos vehemently slammed.

Gullas was wondering why De los Reyes is insisting on getting Cañete when Cañete had been ejected as president of Mandaue City College in 2007.

Cañete refused to vacate the post and when Mayor Jonas Cortes took over the MCC campus in Barangay Ibabao, he relocated the school to the premises of Eversley Child Sanitarium in Barangay Jagobiao.

"Pero ang akong dakong pangutana, nganong mokuha man ta'g taga-Mandaue nga ang trabaho para man sa Talisay?" Gullas asked.

Gullas said he would leave it up to the Board of Trustees to decide on whether Bacaltos has to be replaced by anyone, as long as the replacement comes from Talisay.

Gullas said there was no political color behind his call of getting somebody from the city to run the college. He said it was more of satisfying legal requirements.

Gullas reiterated his call to De los Reyes to convene the BOT of the city college to finally put an end to the issue.

Rep. Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas acts as a member of the board, while De los Reyes, as the mayor, sits as its chairman.

In a separate interview with the reporters, De los Reyes said he is giving Cañete a chance to prove himself worthy of the position.

The mayor clarified Cañete will sit only as an officer-in-charge of the city college.

"I am not giving him the full assignment but only as an OIC," said De los Reyes.

De los Reyes assured his constituents that he will uphold the vision of the college to be known nationally and internationally as a center of excellence in education.  (FREEMAN)