Cotabato City government shuts down private school

COTABATO CITY -- The Cotabato City government has ordered the closure of a private college here on Monday for failure to secure a business permit and other requirements.

Aniceto Rasalan, secretary of Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, said the Mindanao Capitol Colleges, Incorporated (MCCI), failed to apply for a business permit to legalize its operation this year.

“(The) lack of accreditation from CHED was one of the reasons why MCC could not apply for renewal of business permit from the city government,” Rasalan said, referring to the Commission on Higher Education accreditation certificate.

Rasalan said the school, located along Roman Vilo Street, Cotabato City, also violated the local revenue code.

“Estudyante ang pinakaapektado (Students are greatly affected),” Rasalan said, adding that more than 500 students are affected by the closure. MCCI offers education, commerce and arts and sciences, criminology and other vocational and technical education courses.

“It is sad MCC has been accepting students even its application for renewal of accreditation with CHED is still pending and for its failure to seek a business permit from the city government,” Rasalan said.

The Philippine News Agency tried but failed to reach MCCI officials for comments on the issue.