MORE LEARNING FACILITIES FOR MCC! Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Prospero De Vera III (2nd, L) announces that the Mabalacat City College (MCC) will be included in the next batch of local colleges in the Philippines to receive an i-Lab Grant, a facility that will aid MCCians in expanding their technological skills, cross-cultural communication and international capacities. Witnessing the commissioner’s announcement last October 13, 2021 are Senator Sherwin Gatchalian (2nd R), Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo (R), College President Michelle Aguilar-Ong (L), and the rest of the MCC academic community. (Photo by MCC)
MABALACAT CITY— As it strives to be one of the best local colleges in the Philippines, the Mabalacat City College (MCC) recently earned praises from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and from Senator Sherwin Gatchalian for its impressive facilities and efficient administration.
During the “Padyak para sa Flexible Learning: Sama-samang Vaccination Program” held October 13, 2021 at the Mabalacat City College (MCC), Senator Gatchalian and CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III toured the campus grounds together with Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo Garbo and College President Michelle Aguilar-Ong.
The two top officials expressed their delight and excitement over the local government’s and the college administration’s thrust to propel MCC to greater heights.
Senator Gatchalian, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, said “Pag pasok ko akala ko pribadong kolehiyo ito [MCC] dahil napakaganda at organized. I can see the sense of organization sa loob ng eskwelahan.”
“Malaking bagay talaga ang partnership between the mayor and also the [college] president dahil this is a local [college] funded by the local government. It should be run as professionally and as efficiently as possible,” Gatchalian added.
Signifying his pleasure to MCC, CHED Chairman De Vera has committed to include MCC in the next batch of local colleges to receive an i-Laboratory Grant.
CHED’s “i-Lab” Project supports the use of technology to not only improve the students’ technological skills but also cross-cultural communication and international capacities. The idea of integrating technology in pedagogy and instruction, research, and extension which leads to internationalization is the aim of this project.
For his part, Mayor Garbo reiterated that his administration has been working tirelessly to improve the quality of instruction in the local college and to upgrade its facilities to further promote MCC as an institution conducive for learning.
As his administration’s commitment in prioritizing education and alternative learning, Garbo disclosed pipeline projects intended for Mabalaqueño students.
“With the approval of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, we are planning to put up another four-story building inside the campus- that will be an additional 40 classrooms to house the college’s administrative offices and cater more Mabalaqueño students in the future,” the city mayor said.
Furthermore, the old city hall located at the Xevera Complex will be renovated as an administrative annex building for MCC where the proposed public library will also be situated, according to Mayor Garbo.
“Once the construction of the new city hall in Barangay Mabiga is completed, the old city hall will house the Mabalacat City Public Library, a learning facility that will make use of conventional and e-library features,” Garbo added.
The Garbo administration has been subsidizing MCC with a P100-million allocation annually to support its operations. The MCC currently serves a total of 3,850 poor but deserving students in the city, and has bagged numerous accolades within the country and abroad including two nominations to the Times Higher Education Awards this 2021.
