Ubay mulls to establish

Its community college

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, November 23 (PIA)—Emboldened by the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law, Ubay local officials decided that investing in education their youth was the best way to go sustainable in the town’s development.

Over this, Ubay information officer John Larry Evangelista bared the town’s plan even as Ubay has yet to asset on its capacity to build its own educational institution considering the town with the largest population eith only one college as catchment.

During the recent Bisita Opisina ang meeting of the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) held in Ubay, Evangelista shared how the town officials are currently working on processing up the papers and documents necessary for the operation of the town’s first tertiary education establishment.

The AUDIO meeting also happened a day after the town’s technical Working group (TWG) sat again to advance their plan to get their community college opening as soon.

The TWG has tackled on applying to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at least four courses that could help define the future of Ubay.

In their menu are the opening up of a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering, BS in Marine Transportation, BS in Information technology and BS in Biology, according to Jonathan Labayos, in his facebook updated post.

The said courses have been pre-identified as among those which the government is offering scholarships through the CHED Scholarship Program (CSP).

These have been incorporated ion CHED Memorandum Order No 5, series of 2009.

Ubay officials have picked on BS Biology under Sciences, Marine Transportation and Marine Engineering under Engineering strand while Information Technology   is under the CHED identified technology strand.

Should this application be favorable to CHED, the students enrolling in these courses for the soon to rise Ubay Community College could avail of the CSP which are now harmonized with the monetary benefits under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education -Tertiary Education Subsidy (UNIFAST -TES).

Under the Higher Education Act of 1984, and the General Appropriations Act, Special provisions for 2019, the government has pushed CEHD to prioritize courses which are aligned with global innovation platforms of Science, technology, Engineering, agri-fisheries and mathematics as well as government priorities in key growth areas such as semi-conductor and electronics, business process outsourcing, tourism, general infrastructure,  and priority manufacturing industries in the government’s grant to schools.

In the TWG were Sangguniang Bayan Committee on Education Chairman chair Councilor Constancio Atuel, Department of Education District Supervisor Dr. Maya Tumalon, Municipal Treasurer Elizabeth Pabellan, Consultant Al Bentulan, Executive Assistant for Education Dr. Maria Reyes, Technical Education Skills Development Authority Assistant Coordinator Ale Golosino, TESDA Registrar Myla Palmero and Municipal Administrator Edwin Reyes. 

As this developed, Evangelista said they have identified a potential site for the mulled community college.

When it happens, Ubay would join the ranks of Trinidad, Buenavista and Tagbilaran City which have started their own tertiary institutions, now made easy and as a potential earning enterprise for the local funds generation aspect of the town.

As this developed, Bohol Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado was formally announced his open support to the dream of converting Ubay town into a Science City. 

When that happens, Ubay would be Bohol’s second city, which might not be tough if Ubay could qualify in the requirements to become a city.

Among other requirements, Ubay is now getting clarification on the parameters like how to count its population, what to consider as income and the necessary infrastructure support like its public utilities.

Congressman Aumentado however has been moving around the district campaigning for support as he has asked the help of urban planners to come up with an integrated planning for his second district towns. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

INVESTING IN EDUCATION. Ubay, according to John Larry Evangelista is now poised to put up its won community college. Over 120 kilometers from Tagbilaran where most of the colleges and universities are, Ubay has Bohol Northern Star, a private tertiary school, Opening up a public school should bear well for the town, Evangelista said. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)