Provincial Board invites Mandaue college head

THE Cebu Provincial Board (PB) will tackle the controversy facing the Mandaue City College (MCC) under Dr. Paulus Cañete.

PB Member and former Mandaue City mayor Thadeo Ouano sponsored a resolution in yesterday’s session to invite Cañete and Mayor Jonas Cortes to shed light on the situation of MCC.

Ouano said his only interest is to “protect the students.”

Last month, Professional Regulation Commission chairperson Teresita Manzala, in a memorandum, said, “Graduates from illegally operated board courses/programs by Mandaue City College shall not be allowed to take any licensure examination.”

Ouano said this means at least  20 students won’t be able to take their board exams.

“Education is the only way to fight poverty,” he told reporters.

PB  majority floor leader Peter John Calderon referred Ouano’s resolution  to the committees on education and human rights.

Ouano also sponsored a resolution requesting the Senate and House committees on education and Education Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro to “intercede and mediate” in the impasse between  MCC, PRC and the Commission on Higher Education (Ched).

In his resolution, Ouano said the old and new MCC were “accorded legal recognition by the PRC by allowing them to take the national licensing examinations which has been the status quo through the years.”

The draft resolution said  “it is not legally appropriate” for Ched to issue a “derogatory letter.” Ouano referred to a resolution issued by Ched chairperson Patricia Licuanan barring MCC graduates from taking any licensure examination.

Ouano said he would  submit this resolution to the Senate, Congress and Department of Education after next week’s discussion with Cortes and Cañete.

Also invited to appear were lawyer  Dan Malayang, officer in charge of PRC Cebu, and Dr. Amelia Biglete, Ched Central Visayas  director. /Carmel Loise Matus Correspondent