6 City College to move out of PHS this year

Monday, January 17, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The City College of San Fernando will move out of its temporary building at Pampanga High School this year to comply with conditions set by the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).

This was announced recently by Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, following reports that the Ched is bound to revoke the City College's permit, if the condition to have its own building is not complied with.

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Last year, the City Government signed an agreement with owners of the former Philippine Rabbit Bus Lines Terminal along MacArthur Highway in Barangay Del Pilar, for the purchase of the old bus stop there where the City College could be housed.

However, according to City Administrator Ferdinand Caylao, legal complications arose as proper documents of the transfer of the ownership of the site were not met.

He told Sun.Star Pampanga that the property has been repossessed by a financial institution. Still, he said, some P28 million for the City College building and campus, where most students are now on their third year of schooling, are intact.

But Rodriguez said the operations of the City College will continue despite the obstacles. Currently, some 500 scholars of the city are enrolled at the institution -- borne from the city's top education agenda -- pursuing various baccalaureate degrees. The college turns three this year, just in time for the term set in the Ched conditions.

"Issuance of the permit for the operation of the City College is conditioned on the building of the City College, among others," said Rodriguez, who added that it's only fitting that it should have its own facilities. Rodriguez said Ched understands this, which is why they allotted the City Government enough time to accomplish these requirements.

He said the Philippine Rabbit terminal site is out of the picture now.

"Wala na iyun. Hindi na namin inaasahan iyun. Kung madaliang masolusyunan iyun eh, well and good," he revealed, adding his objective in putting the City College there was to spur economic activity in the south San Fernando area, what with "warm bodies" to hasten economic vibration, especially with its proximity to the public market and the now rehabilitated and widened MacArthur Highway.

He and Caylao identified two options where the City College would be housed. One area is a two-hectare property (the former site of Orchid Farms Resort) and the back of Heroes Hall itself.

Rodriguez said that once these options are in place within the time frame given by Ched, he will give the green light on another program - the plan to put up a huge building at the back of Heroes Hall, which is where the City College will be. (Jovi T. De Leon)