The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognized local colleges in Mimaropa (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) after meeting the standards set by the commission and for their achievements. CHED on Friday, March 12, bestowed the “Gawad Parangal” award to the City College of Calapan and Baco Community College.
The award comes with the institutional recognition where the recipients are given a certificate of eligibility to receive funds from CHED as provided by Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
During a virtual press conference, CHED Chairman J. Prospero De Vera III commended the colleges.
He also urged other Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) not to consider themselves as “second class citizens” and enjoined them to have “international thinking.”
Aside from receiving trophies for their accomplishments, the two Institutionally Recognized LUCs – City College of Calapan and Baco Community College - were also awarded with Certificates of Eligibility which qualifies them for the Free Higher Education program.
Currently, there are four LUCs in MIMAROPA namely: the City College of Calapan, the Baco Community College, the Pola Community College and the Colegio de Puerto Galera.
CHED noted that the first LUC to be established in MIMAROPA is the City College of Calapan.
It was established in 2008 and was Institutionally recognized in March 27, 2018 following the College’s compliance with CMO No. 32, s.2006 entitled “Policies, Standards and Guidelines on the Establishment and Operation of Local Colleges and Universities’.
Baco Community College, on the other hand, was established in 2014 and was also Institutionally Recognized in March 26, 2019.
CHED noted that the remaining two LUCs – Pola Community College and Colegio de Puerto Galera - are “still in the process” of acquiring their Institutional Recognition although Pola Community College has been granted Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) to operate two (2) undergraduate programs.
“Colegio de Puerto Galera is in the process of complying with the requirements for COPC of their programs,” the commission added. CHED said that its regional office provided technical assistance to both CCC and BCC in complying with the standards for Institutional Recognition in the areas of governance and management, appropriateness of facilities and sustainability of operations.
A series of consultation meetings with the region was also conducted culminating in the joint evaluation for Institutional Recognition.
During the program, Pola Community College will be awarded with their Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) for two programs which was issued this school year.