MOA seeks to bar CTU from hiring MCC staff

CEBU, Philippines — A proposed memorandum of agreement between the Mandaue City Government and the Cebu Technological University (CTU) seeks to protect the Mandaue City College (MCC) from potential “poaching” of its faculty and administrative staff.

Councilor Carlo Fortuna said the anti-poaching provision was included in the MOA to prevent the planned CTU Mandaue Campus from affecting MCC’s academic quality and human resources, particularly since salaries at a state university may be more competitive.

Fortuna said there is a possibility that MCC teachers could be enticed to transfer to CTU once its Mandaue Campus is established in Barangay Looc, potentially affecting MCC’s academic operations.

Under Section 6-B of the MOA, CTU will not be allowed to recruit, “pirate,” or hire active full-time faculty members or administrative staff of MCC for its Mandaue Campus.

The restriction will remain in effect for 24 months from an employee’s formal separation from MCC, unless the MCC Board of Trustees issues a written waiver or No Objection Certificate.

Fortuna said the provision is intended to ensure that the CTU campus complements MCC rather than competes with it.

The MOA also provides that CTU will not offer undergraduate degree programs already being offered by MCC, including the Bachelor of Secondary Education, Bachelor of Elementary Education, Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, and Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology.

The CTU Mandaue Campus is expected to offer engineering programs.

“The city government is just thinking of a harmonious relationship, at the same time makatabang ang CTU sa educational system sa Mandaue City College,” Fortuna said.

He said MCC students would also be allowed to benefit from CTU’s facilities, particularly since the two institutions will be located in the same area in Barangay Looc.

Under the MOA, qualified MCC students may use CTU’s laboratories, libraries, research databases and specialized equipment, subject to CTU policies and availability.

They may also cross-enroll in high-cost specialized laboratory subjects that MCC may not have the financial capacity to maintain.

Fortuna said students could also earn academic units through cross-enrollment that may be credited toward their MCC programs.

He said the two institutions would maintain separate operations, with CTU functioning as a university and MCC as a college, while working toward academic curriculum synergy.

The MOA also provides for a faculty mentorship program, joint laboratories and research initiatives, as well as joint board examination review sessions for programs such as education and engineering.

The committee report containing the revised MOA was approved by the City Council during its regular session yesterday, August 10.

The approval of the committee report clears the way for Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano to sign and execute the agreement with CTU. — (FREEMAN)