TCC head: Too early yet to judge me

CEBU, Philippines -  Acting Talisay City College president Dr. Gamaliel B. Vicente Jr. dismissed the manifesto signed by student and faculty organizations saying their opposition to his appointment was "without basis."

The manifesto, copy of which furnished to the office of Mayor Johnny V. De los Reyes, claimed Vicente won't be effective in his new designation as he is already loaded with work as dean of the University of the Visayas College of Engineering and Architecture and as Talisay City government's acting engineer.

Though Vicente quickly slammed the manifesto saying it's too early to judge him, he said he respects those who are opposed to his installation.

"Directly put, their concern is without basis. Why? I have not yet assumed and set foot at TCC (as of press time). Their concern is curable," Vicente said in a statement issued to The FREEMAN.

Vicente, who is the third official to be appointed to the post one month since TCC became leaderless in June, assured  aggrieved parties that he will relinquish his part-time job as dean if he will be proven ineffective of his new job.

"In any eventuality there is ineffectiveness on my part, though unlikely, I will relinquish my part-time job as dean of the University of the Visayas to show my full commitment to Mayor JVR and the Board of Trustees, as well as to the students, faculty, alumni and parents of TCC," Vicente said.

"In all humility, I do have high regard to student organizations being a student leader before. I humbly suggest to our TCC Supreme Student Government president to focus on what they can give that is beneficial to TCC and his fellow students… to make, conceptualize and propose programs and activities for the betterment of the entire studentry," he added.

He also called on the TCC alumni president and the faculty association president to concentrate first on what they can do to help the school.

Vicente admitted it is not easy for him to give up UV as "being a part-time dean is one of my ways of giving back to my Alma Mater."

Vicente, a known ally of former congressman Eduardo Gullas, said his relationship with the former congressman and the entire Gullas family has been "purely professional."

Even if he believes that the issues surrounding the controversial city college are political in nature, he requested concerned parties that he and the school be spared from political bickering.

"I am not a politician, I am only a simple government worker who will deliver what is instructed to me by my chief executive…whoever  sits as Talisay City mayor.  My chief executive right now is Mayor JVR. Let us just leave political affairs to the politicians, and spare education and the academe from politics," Vicente said.  (FREEMAN)