City college closes 2 courses: Gov’t doubles aid for affected students

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City government will be offering more than P20,000 assistance to 28 incoming graduating students who are affected by the closure of two courses at the Mandaue City College (MCC) in Mandaue City Cultural Sports Complex.

Councilor Nenita Ceniza-Layese, who chairs the council’s Committee on Appropriation, Budget and Finance, recommended the increase of the financial assistance of the 28 students from P10,714.28 to P21,428.57 each. It will be charged to the General Fund/Non-Office; Donations/Financial assistance.

This means, Layese said, that the City Council has appropriated the amount of P600,000 good for one year, or equivalent to two semesters, as financial assistance to the students.

"The Committee recommends for the approval of the amendment of the ordinance No. 43-2017, in the amount of P300,000 per semester or a total of P600,000 for one year or equivalent to two semesters, to the incoming fourth year and graduating students," Layese said in her committee report submitted to the council for approval.

The Mandaue City College-Board of Trustees said they will no longer be offering the two courses as the school cannot provide adequate facilities in accordance with the memorandum from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The school administration pointed out that the high cost of creating facilities to conform to the CHED memorandum proved to be prohibitive and not cost-effective for the city college.

There are two community colleges in Mandaue City. The first one in Canduman was established in September 2005 while the second one was established in 2007 at the Sports Complex under the administration of then Mayor Jonas Cortes and operated by Dr. Susana Cabahug.

Doctor Paulus Mariae Cañete, the administrator of the Mandaue City College (MCC) in Barangay Canduman, said he is willing to accommodate the 28 students from MCC in the city’s Sports Complex.

Cañete said the MCC in Canduman can accommodate the students without hassle and free of charge.

"Kung ila nang i-transfer ang 28 students, akong pasalig nila nga libre sila. Dili na madali-dali nga moingon lang nga i-transfer sa laing eskwelahan," Cañete said.

Cañete also said he will set aside the issues between the two MCCs in order to help the students continue and finish their education.

"CHED has been telling us, our MCC, to close kay wala mi permit. Unya karon, nganong nahatagan man sila og permit sa CHED nga dili man diay kompleto ang ilang mga facilities? Mao na ang gibilin nga problema ni Mayor Cortes ngadto ni Mayor Quisumbing," Cañete said.

The legality of both the MCCs in Canduman and at the Sports Complex is yet to be determined.

During the term of Cortes, the city government did not give any funds to the old college because the city government did not recognize its legitimacy, adding that a city college should be initiated by the city government and not by anyone else.

Cortes, a councilor then, was one of the authors of an ordinance that established the old MCC in 2005. —/JBB (FREEMAN)