City to settle operational version of community college

WHILE approving the creation and establishment of the Iloilo City Community College, the City Council is not settled yet on whose version will prevail.

The City Council is set to sit down as committee of the whole to discuss and determine which should be adopted on the two separate versions submitted by proponent Councilor Jeffrey Ganzon and City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Committee on education chair, Councilor Plaridel Nava said the two versions of operating a city community college should be harmonized for a win-win solution.

Nava said that while the technical aspect was resolved with donation of P20 million for the construction of a four-storey building from Injap Corp., what remains to be answered is the financial viability of maintaining the college and sustaining the standard school operations.

A substantial budgetary amount is required and the city cannot simply rely on the proposed student’s counterpart to meet the school maintenance and operating expenses.

It was known that Ganzon submitted a requirement of P6 million from the City Government while the city mayor wanted P5 million as budgetary requirement.

The employment of school personnel, teaching and administrative staff will create financial burden considering that the ceiling or cap for personal services has already been exceeded.

The education committee believes that the issue on financial viability can be best addressed to the city mayor who shall implement and execute the laws and policies pertaining to the city college.

The requirements set forth by the Commission on Higher Education on the policies and guidelines on the establishment and operation of a community college can be promptly complied with by the City Government. (Lydia C. Pendon)