Mayor to look into increased fees

CEBU, Philippines - Some parents with children who are enrolled at the Talisay City College have cried foul over the sudden increase in entrance fees from last semester’s P300 to this coming semester’s P550.

 “Wa na gani na sila’y klaro ron, patas-an na hinuon ang entrance. Unsaon kaha na nila’ng kwarta,” said a mother who refused to be named. She has one student at the said city-run school.

 The mother said she was surprised upon learning that the school has increased the usual entrance fee, saying they were not prepared for it.

Another mother, who has one student there, also echoed her statement, adding that for someone who relies on a P50-daily income from being a helper at a carenderia, this additional fee is a burden to her. She has no husband to help in educating her son, while the first mother is a laundry woman whose husband is a carpenter who earns P250 a day.

 Accordingly, the school had just announced the  hike last week, to which the mothers alleged was without a consultation.

 There are more than 2,000 students of TCC and majority is from the marginalized sector.

The school was established in 2004 by former first district Representative Eduardo Gullas with an aim to give affordable college education to the city’s fresh high school graduates.

When the school opened, the usual price for one unit per semester ranged from P80 to P100, and the entrance fee was at P300.

 For his part, Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes said that as of yesterday afternoon, he had no idea that the school implemented an increase in its entrance fee and that he doubted if the TCC board of trustees had approved of this.

De los Reyes heads the BOT, the body which is allowed under the bylaws of the school to make rules, impose fees and make changes pertaining to the operations of the city college.

 “Wa ko kahibaw ani. Kung tinuod man gani ni, maayo unta pahibaw-on ang mga tawo before mag-increase,” said the mayor, who is also the acting TCC president while the position is still vacant.

 De los Reyes said he will talk to Dr. Edgar Martinez, the TCC officer-in-charge, to ask for an explanation.

 “Tawagan pa nako si Dr. Martinez kung unsa ni katinuod. Di unta dere-drecho kung magpasaka og bayranan, pahibaw-on gyud unta ang mga ginikanan kung mosugot ba sila kay og ako’y pangutan-on, di ko mosugot,” de los Reyes added.

 The mayor said he will call for a meeting today, and may meet with the board to talk about this matter.

 De los Reyes reminded the school administration that the city is still subsidizing a huge portion of its annual expenses, which is more than P10 million.  (FREEMAN)