BY JENNA LUMBANG
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The provincial government hosted the first regional conference of 13 local colleges from the seven provinces of Central Luzon to talk about issues and problems in their operation.
Gov. Lilia Pineda said she saw the need for the local colleges to meet with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to air their sentiments concerning management and operations of their school for possible solutions and actions to be taken.
“Here in Pampanga, we are closely coordinating with our local colleges and state universities. We have learned that there are problems we need to address with the help of CHED for a better delivery of quality and affordable education,” Pineda said.
During the open forum, issues that were raised by officials of local colleges are; budget and financial support from the LGUs; memorandums issued by CHED; scholarship program and; local colleges’ governance as economic enterprise.
CHED Central Luzon Dir. Caridad Oli Abuan oriented representatives of the tertiary schools the legal basis of the establishment of local colleges stressing the commitment of the local government units.
She clarified that all expenses in their operation are obligation of LGUs since they are the one who founded them.
“CHED gives technical assistance but budget and other subsidies for their operation should come from LGUs,” Abuan explained.
