Oro’s city college snaps noticed attendance dip

MindanaoToday.com | Oro’s city college snaps noticed attendance dip 

By: Uriel Quilinguing

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines – Once college education is free, it entices enrollment; but if students do not regularly report to class, then the institution offering it must find out why.

This was one of the takeaways from Dr. Jestoni Babia’s responses to queries which reporters raised in a forum that the Cagayan de Oro Press Club organized at SM Downtown mall here on Wednesday, February 19. He is the president of the City College of Cagayan de Oro (CCCDO).

He said that the City College has officially enrolled 375 students in its three four-year courses for school year 2024-2025, but attendance dip was observed just weeks from the opening of classes in August last year.

These diploma programs are Bachelor of Technical and Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTE) major in electrical technology, Bachelor of Technology Livelihood Education (BTLE) major in industrial arts, and Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BAC)—all covered with Certificates of Program Compliance (CoPC) from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

Aside from being city residents, all CCCDO students had submitted certificates of indigency they secured from the City Social Welfare and Development Office. These was one of the requirements from the City Scholarships Office (CSO) at City Hall so that they could be granted free tuition privileges and monthly stipend—released every quarter.

Babia said the total number of students attending classes went down to 299, hence an “intervention process” must be done to determine the cause/s. The main reason, he said, was financial—they do not have money for daily transport fare.

Knowing the reason, they coordinated with the CSO and include their names into the list of “city scholars” who are to be entitled with monthly allowances.

The amount ranges from P1,000 to P3,500 involving some 15,000 students currently enrolled in various colleges and universities in this city, including those at the CCCDO. These come from the P320-million that the city government has allotted for its city scholarship program.

The CCCDO has also inked an agreement with Angkas for a 15-percent discount for all its students, faculty members and personnel until March 31, this year.

These, aside from the possibility of acquiring a college bus, and eventual establishment of a dormitory, once CCCDO moves out from its current campus at Barangay Agusan within to Barangay Dansolihon—the future campus site of the CCCDO.

Agusan is about 13 kilometers east from the city proper, while Baikingon is over 24 kilometers away on the upland western side of the city.

Babia, who was appointed by Mayor Rolando Uy, got his confirmation on Monday February 17 by the City Council, although he had assumed the post over a year ago. CCDO was created under City Ordinance No. 14564 of 2023.

Borrowing the mantra of a banking institution, the CCCDO president said: “We find ways.” [Uriel Quilinguing/MT]

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