To give way to new OIC Bacaltos to take exit as TCC head

CEBU, Philippines - Acting Talisay City College president Ritchel Bacaltos is now gearing up for the formal turning over of the school management and documents to its newest appointed officer-in-charge, Commission on Higher Education-7 Regional Director Freddie Bernal.

"I'm preparing all the documents and records to be formally turned over to Director Bernal. As of now, I am waiting for his letter-communication," Bacaltos told The FREEMAN.

This developed after the Talisay City College-Board of Trustees members on Monday decided unanimously to let CHED take over the school until such time that the issue concerning the school's presidency is resolved.

To recall, the TCC Board of Trustees is supporting Bacaltos but Talisay Mayor Johnny De los Reyes has appointed Dr. Paulus Mariae Cañete to the post.

Separately, Mayor De los Reyes told reporters yesterday that it was not 1easy for him to convince the members of the BOT to resolve the issue citing that there are hesitations to replace Bacaltos.

The mayor, who sits as chairman of the board, presided the meeting.

"There are some members of the BOT who proposed that Ritchel remain but I insisted that it will only create trouble, especially to the camp of Cañete, whom I appointed. Ako ra baya gyud usa didto pero maayo gani kay nadala ra nato sa hangyo," De los Reyes said, adding that the agreement was a "win-win" solution to the leadership delimma,

 The TCC board has 11 members with the mayor as chairman, the college president as vice chairman, Cebu first district Representative Gerald Anthony Gullas as honorary member and Talisay City District Superintendent Woodrow Denuyo as board secretary.

The present members of the board are the chairman of the committee on education, the chairman of the committee on budget and finance, the president of Cebu Normal University, the president of Cebu Technological University, the regional director of CHED, the city treasurer, and the president of the Talisay Chamber of Commerce.

Except for the presidents of CNU and CTU president, all the other members were present in the BOT meeting.

De los Reyes appreciated the members when they did not object that Cañete and Bacaltos will be removed and replaced by another officer-in-charge of the school.

De los Reyes also said as part of the agreement, he will revoke the executive order he issued which formalized Cañete's appointment.

The mayor said he already instructed the city treasurer's office and the city accounting office to prepare for the salary of some job order personnel rendering their services at the school.

In a separate interview, Talisay City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar said the search committee, which is composed of the members of the CHED, the CNU and the CTU, will start crafting guidelines for the selection of next TCC president.

Among the requirements of the next president, Aznar proposed, is that the president be a resident of Talisay and has no cases in court. (FREEMAN)