THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) in Western Visayas has recognized Bacolod City College (BCC) as one of the awardees for institutional recognition during this year's Gawad Parangal.

Councilor Renecito Novero, chairperson of the City Council committee on education, received the award at Zuri Hotel, Iloilo City on Thursday, November 25.

Novero, who represented Mayor Evelio Leonardia, said the award is in connection with the "Padyak Para Ikaayong Lawas kag Libre Nga Edukasyon: A School Based Vaccination Campaign and the Implementation of the Tertiary Education Subsidy Program" in Western Visayas on November 22 to 27.

He said the Gawad Parangal 2021 aims to inspire, nurture and bring out the best in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Western Visayas.

He added it acknowledges the effort of the HEIs in bringing responsive services not only to the academic community in Western Visayas but to the society as well.

Novero said this is an institutional recognition of the BCC and it is a big favor since all the courses offered by BCC were already recognized by Ched.

Leonardia founded BCC when he was mayor in 1997, to offer low tuition fees to Bacolodnons.

In 2018, the Ched approved the accreditation of the college to provide free tuition under the Universal Access to Quality Education Act.