BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod approved on second and final reading the proposed ordinance revising the charter of the Bacolod City College (BCC).
BCC’s revised charter is the remaining requirement that the school management has yet to submit to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
BCC seeks institutional recognition as a local college from CHED so that its students can avail themselves of the government’s free tuition program under Republic Act (RA) 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, next school year.
RA 10931 makes tuition and other school fees free in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and state-run technical-vocational institutions.
Councilor Renecito Novero, author of the ordinance, hopes that CHED will now accredit BCC.
Last week, Novero met with CHED Region 6 director Cesar Medina, who told him to fast-track the ordinance’s approval.
The ordinance reestablishes the organizational structure of BCC and creates new positions.
It also redefines the functions and composition of the college governing board and other offices and committees, pursuant to the mandate of the city-run college as a higher education institution./PN