Victorias not ready to put up own city college

Victorias Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said the local government is not yet ready to put up its own city college.

“The previous administration weighed the cost of having a Victorias City College and so they opted to invite the Central Philippines State University (CPSU) to come in. Instead of fully funding a college we can get funding from the national government and then supplement it with local funding,” Benitez said.

Another problem hindering the city government from putting up its own college is the strict rules of the Commission on Higher Education, Benitez said, citing the agency’s rules on curriculum.

“You can’t have your own curriculum. What we want is we can control it, we can measure it and we can have a say like the DeEd Division Office. In the case of a state college or university, we don’t have a hand,” he pointed out.

He lauded Bacolod City and Bago City which have their own local colleges.

“I do want one but it’s not needed right now. I don’t think it’s a good time yet. We have to make sure there is a market and also the funding,” he also said.

We still have other priorities, Benitez said.* (Eugene Adiong)