City college eyed in mountain barangay

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government is planning to operate a city college in the upland areas of the city.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña announced that he has a friend who owns at least 60-hectare property in Barangays Busay, Sirao and Malubog area and is willing to donate a portion for the college.

"I really want to put a college in the mountain barangay. It's very hard for these people to come down here. It's very expensive. We'll just put one there," Osmeña said.

Osmeña said the property will be donated to the city government and the city will finance the construction of the school buildings and the operation of the school.

"If the city will put up a college, put it in the mountain because there's no college there. Why would the city put up a college beside ACT, beside UV, what for?" he said.

 He said he told the donor, whom he refused to name for now, that if there would be a college in the mountain barangay the value of his property would increase. The mayor also plans to put up a call center in the mountain soon.

He said the city scholars in the mountain barangays will no longer pay for house rental and transportation.

"Basta dili daplin sa dalan. Sudlonon gamay. Dili mana problema basta accessible lang," he said.

If the school buildings will be completed, Osmeña said he is eyeing to put one course in the college that would train the students on how to speak English fluently and other skills needed for call center.

"But my vision is that the college will train our students to be qualified for a call center. One course that will make you speak English to qualify call center," he said.

Osmeña said he has observed many college graduates, of different degree programs, are now successful in the BPO industry.

As to the budget of the construction, he said the city government will find ways to look for it.

The budget, however, would still not be included in the annual appropriations next year because the planning has to be completed first.

"Our budget is really in a mess. It's really a mess. It needs a fine tuning," he said.

But, the mayor vowed to put a college no matter where to source the fund. (FREEMAN)