THE Davao City government is speeding up the repair and retrofitting of the facilities of the City College of Davao (CCD) at its temporary site, as it targets its operation in August this year.
Dr. Wenefredo Cagape, CCD officer in charge-President, said in a report from the City Information Office that they are working on with the repairs to obtain a license to operate from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
“Ang (The) location is really needed because the CHED Manila will come here in Davao to inspect and evaluate the preparedness and readiness of the City College of Davao before they are going to approve the permit to operate,” he said.
Cagape they are only waiting for the completion of the repair and retrofitting of the classrooms at the Mindanao Christian Foundation College & Seminary, Inc. in Barangay Catalunan Pequeño the temporary site of CCD.
“So far, sa atong City College naa nata sa 85 percent ang atoang compliance, ongoing ang repair and retrofitting sa atong location. Daghan ang mga tauhan sa City Engineers naa sa area. Even on Saturdays, they are working para mapadali ang pagtrabaho (So far we are at 85 percent compliance for our City College. The repair and retrofitting of our location are ongoing. Personnel from the City Engineers Office (CEO) are in the area, they are even working during Saturdays to fast track the work),” the school official said.
The CCD Secretariat is already done with the documentary requirements.
Cagape said a budget of P9.8 million has been allocated for the repair and retrofitting of 14 existing spacious classrooms and other facilities such as offices, laboratories, and many more. The CCD aims to cater to a total of 1,000 students in the first batch. A blended learning modality is also planned to accommodate all students.
Cagape said that CCD aims to offer a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Education Major in Computer Programming, Automotive Technology, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and a Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship (BS Entrep).
He said that based on the ordinance, the priority students for admission are from low income (with P6,000 below an annual income of parents), Indigenous People (IP) learners, working students, students from Alternative Learning System (ALS), and students from Late Afternoon Program (LAP).
Cagape said that job posting for the hiring of 50 plantilla positions - 40 teachers and 10 non-teaching personnel is done. Their appointments will be approved by the CCD President, who will be appointed in July 2022. He added that this is only the initial number as they will hire more teachers in the future.
The official assured those who want to enroll in the City College of Davao, that the Secretariat and the city government agencies are doing their best to push for the operation this incoming school year.
“We still do not have the schedule for enrolment since there is no approval from CHED yet. We will post the announcement on our Facebook Page to let you know about the enrollment. We will try our best to finish all the requirements before we can accept your children to enroll in the City College of Davao,” Cagape said.
Councilor Pilar Braga, committee on education chairperson and author of the CCD ordinance passed in 2020, meanwhile, told SunStar Davao in an ambush interview that the city is pushing for its opening this year.
"We're working day and night to be able to prepare for the opening in August [this year]," Braga said on Wednesday, June 22 during the centennial celebration of the Davao City National High School.
Initially, the CCD was targeted to open in 2020 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The permanent site will be in a 5-hectare property of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) near the University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Mindanao) in Bago Oshiro in Mintal, Tugbok District.
Braga said the development for the permanent site would still take around two years to accomplish. RGL with reports from CIO