CEBU, Philippines - For Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, the old Talisay municipal hall, which is situated in barangay Poblacion, has historical value, and makes a perfect place for the Talisay City College.
In an interview with reporters, Gullas, the father of Talisay City, said if he had his way, he will not transfer the Talisay City College to another area even when the school becomes a state college.
Gullas said he wants the city college to remain within the old municipal building despite calls from the city’s opposition bloc to transfer the school to another place.
Gullas is now pursuing in the Senate Committee on Education the approval of his proposal to turn the Talisay City College into a state university.
The bill has been approved by the House committee on higher and technical education.
According to Gullas, the location is historical considering the old town hall formerly sits on an area where the liberation of Cebu took place back in World War II.
Meanwhile, Gullas hopes that his eldest grandson, Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, if elected in Congress, will continue his vision.
Gullas said the creation of TCC has helped a lot of poor students in the city of getting an affordable tertiary education.
He said that compared to other nursing colleges in Cebu that allow students to pay P18,000 to P20,000 in tuition per semester, TCC only offers the same course for P3,000 per semester.
But Talisay City opposition councilor Romeo Villarante said transferring the city college to another area will give it the opportunity to have better facilities.
Villarante said the old municipal hall that is currently used by the school should become a satellite office for the city government, to serve as a one-stop shop for residents.
He said the city has been acquiring lots over the past year and most of these lots were reportedly acquired on installment basis.