CTU to open extension campus in Tabuelan

The Cebu Technological University (CTU) is set to establish one more extension campus in Tabuelan town as its 21st in the entire Province of Cebu, in order to bring the free tuition fee college education to the countryside.

Last Saturday, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed by Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon, Tabuelan Mayor Rex Casiano Gerona, and CTU President Dr. Rosein Ancheta Jr.

The plan of CTU was materialized after Gerona and his brother, Vice Mayor Raul Gerona, donated a one-hectare lot in Barangay Tabunok, while Salimbangon also provided P10 million initial funding for the construction of the school building.

Mayor Gerona thanked other adjacent property owners like couples Esmer and Susan Bejoc, Alex and Hermes Duran, and Boy and Bebe Arnejo for also donating their lots for the road-right-of-way.

“Gusto gyud ang mga tawo nga makahimo og eskwelahan kay sila mismo ni-donate sa ilang yuta,” Mayor Gerona said.

He further said the advantage to have a college campus in his town is that parents can save for rental of lodging and transportation allowance of their children. The safety of their children is also of utmost concern.

It is stipulated in the MOU that the CTU extension campus shall open and operate in the Municipality of Tabuelan effective school calendar year 2018-2019.

“The intention is to bring education to the countryside,” Salimbangon said.

Salimbangon also said it took him three to four years to convince the Commission on Higher Education to establish a state college in Tabuelan. President Rodrigo Duterte signed on August 3 last year a law providing free education for over a million students in public tertiary and vocational schools nationwide.

For the second semester of academic year 2017-2018, which starts in January 2018, the government will subsidize both tuition and miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges.

Other existing CTU campuses in the Fourth District are in Daanbantayan, San Remigio, Tabogon and Bantayan, while other colleges are Cebu Normal University in Medellin; Philippine State College of Aeronautics campus in Curva, Medellin; and Madridejos Community College.

At present, CTU has 11 extension campuses and nine satellite campuses in the entire Province and City of Cebu.