Study required on city college

CEBU, Philippines —  For the Cebu City College (CCC) to be realized, the city government is required to conduct prior study showing several social considerations and underpinnings to be evaluated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

The CHED Memorandum Order No. 32, Series of 2006 is one of the legal frameworks provided in the proposed ordinance of Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia entitled: “An ordinance creating the Cebu City College providing funds for its operation and maintenance and for other purposes.”

In its position paper, the City Legal Office (CLO) said “it is clear that the proposed ordinance has laid down all the relevant legal framework as basis for the city government to exercise its powers and mandate to provide access to affordable education to less privileged children.”

However, “it may well be observed that the “WHEREAS” clauses did not provide social circumstances and objectives that prompted the drafting of the ordinance,” the CLO added.

Article V, Section 2 of CMO No. 32 provides that before the establishment of all local colleges and universities (LCU), the local government unit must consult and coordinate with the CHED regional office to ensure full compliance with the requirements.

The first requirement is a feasibility study containing the following: need for a local higher education institution in the area, human resources requirements of the industry to determine proposed program offerings, target clients, availability of qualified administrations, faculty and non-teaching personnel and financial capacity of the LGU to establish and sustain the operation of an LGU.

Second, a certification of availability of funds by the treasurer of the LGU concerned as provided by the Local Government Code of 1991.

Third, a project development plan to show that the LGU allocated a school site with appropriate size and location pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Building Code of the Philippines, blueprint of architectural design for its buildings and other physical facilities and provisions for acquisition of instructional materials and equipment that comply with CHED Memorandum Orders (CMOs) pertinent to the program to be offered.

Lastly, a five-year institutional development plan duly approved by the Sangunian which includes the annual budgetary allocation; organizational structure and composition of governing board; and plantilla of positions as provided from in the Association of Local Colleges and Universities (ALCU) Unified Merit System duly approved by the Civil Service Commission.

City Legal Officer Rey Gealon said that the prior ordinance on the city college numbered 2320 needs to be repealed as it is now “inapplicable, inconsistent and in contravention of the Mayor’s policy direction and CHED’s standards and guidelines.”  LPM (FREEMAN)