San Fernando City College eyes ALCUCOA accreditation
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO---The City College of San Fernando, Pampanga (CCSFP) is on its initial steps to receiving programs accreditation from the Association of Local Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation ( ALCUCOA) .
ALCUCOA is the accrediting body for local colleges and universities. It is recognized by the Commission on Higher Education to examine the educational operations of universities in the local government if it is operating above or within the standards set for Higher Education Inst i t ut i ons.
On September 24, 2021, Dr. Raymundo P. Arcega, President and Executive Director of ALCUCOA, conducted an initial visit and recommendations
CLARK FREEPORT— Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello has recalled one of his agency’s field officer over an alleged anomaly on the implementation of the government’s flagship cash-for-work progr am.
Bello ordered the recall of field officer Atty. Joel Petaca of the DOLENational Capital Region Office to his mother unit so he can shed light on the controversy.
The move came following allegations of irregularities to CCSFP.
“I am so happy that finally the City College of San Fernando has submitted itself for accreditation. We just come here to initially evaluate what CCSFP has done and make some initial recommendations prior to the actual and formal visit of the ALCUCOA visitors,” Arcega said.
“In fact, I am excited because without the accreditation yet, the CCSFP has been already doing very well in the board examinations for teacher education,” he added.
Attorney Gloria Victoria Bañas, CCSFP Officer-in-charge and President, underscored the importance of accreditation to the institution.
“Accreditation is just like ISO certification in the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program in several districts of the locality.
“I want to know why he allowed such problems to happen in the delivery of TUPAD in Quezon City. He was supposed to monitor the program of our department. Was he negligent?” Bello said.
Earlier, Quezon City residents claiming to be where you have to allow third party organizations to go through the system and process to evaluate your accomplishment vis-à-vis your promise of quality, relevant, and inclusive education. So, this is a great opportunity for us to prove that, though relatively small, the City College is already exceeding national standards. More so, if we are an accredited institution, that adds more credence to our graduates and adds more to their employability globally,” Bañas explained.
Initially, a school applies for a candidate status and shall be given accredited status once the overall rating is satisfied. The school then can apply for Level 1 and shall undergo the accreditation for the said beneficiaries of TUPAD complained payouts of the program were not given in full. Reports of “ghost beneficiaries” were also brought to the attention of authorities.
Bello said DOLE is almost done with its investigation on the matter. level. CCSFP will begin with a candidate status for this year.
From November 10 to 12, 2021, the formal visit of ALCUCOA accreditors will take place. The result of the first evaluation is expected to come out in the first quarter of 2022.
Once accredited, CCSFP can avail some privileges being granted by the regulatory education body such as: Exemption from institutional quality assurance; Recognition by foreign ministries of education; Upon endorsement of ALCUCOA, qualified to apply and receive grants and scholarships for faculty, students and staff; Can accept foreign students; Qualified to receive grants for research, He said they are also waiting for the outcome of the probe conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.
“Once all the reports are in, we will definitely go after the individuals behind this problem,” he sai d.
MABALACAT CITY --- Healthcare workers (HWCs) should be given hazard payS for risking exposure to COVID-19 every day in private and public health institutions, Senator Joel Villanueva said.
At the Senate hearing on Senate Bill No. 2371, or the Benefits for Healthcare Workers Act, Villanueva endorsed a proposal doubling the Special Risk Allowances (SRA) and Active Hazard Duty Pay (AHDP) for healthcare workers.
He also suggested that the measure widen the reach of the benefits to include non-medical healthcare workers.
“We are suggesting that we broaden the scope of the bill to include the non-medical healthcare workers,” Villanueva, chair of the Senate labor committee, said during the hearing.
HCWs include doctors, nurses, nursing assistants, medtechs, midwives, radtechs, pharmacists and car egi ver s.
Non-medical HCWs, meanwhile, are those who work in private and public health institutions such as barangay health workers, admin staff, utility workers, social workers, dietary staff, security guard, drivers and hospital employees.
“Non-medical healthcare workers are also at risk of contracting COVID-19 in the workplace since they won't know sino ang may COVID sa mga nakainteract nila. Airborne yung virus and highly transmissible ang Delta variant,” Villanueva said.
The lawmaker added that saying non-medical HCWs are not entitled to SRA and AHDP ignores the reality that they are also at risk of getting the COVID-19 virus in the workplace.
Villanueva said the case fatality rate of nonmedical HCWs are not far behind that of medical HCWs.
CLARK FREEPORT --- The provincial government of Tarlac has recorded 146 new cases of COVID 19 on Thursday.
With this, the total number of coronavirus cases in the province has climbed to 2,644 as of September 23, 2021.
Tarlac also logged one new COVID 19 death bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 503.
The mortalities are from Tarlac City, 176; Capas, 56; Concepcion, 55; Gerona, 32; Bamban, 30; Paniqui, 25; Camiling, 25; Victoria, 22; La Pa, 22; Moncada, 16; Santa Ignacia, 7; Mayantoc, 7; Anao, 7; San Clemente, 6; Ramos, 6; San Manuel, 5; Pura, 3; and San Jose, 3.
Some 87 patients meanwhile recovered from the virus, it was learned.
A total of 12,349 patients representing 79.69 percent of the total 15,496 cases in the province, had recovered from COVID 19.
Tarlac City has the most number of cases with 59 new. It was followed by Camiling with 17, Capas with 11, and Gerona 10.
Other Tarlac towns with new cases include Victoria, 9; Concepcion, 8; Santa Ignacia, 7; Paniqui, 5; Bamban, 5; La Paz, 4; San Clemente, 3; San Manuel, 3; Mayantoc, 2; Ramos, 2; and Pura, 1.
Tarlac towns sans new COVID 19 cases include Moncada, San Jose and Anao.
The provincial government also reported that a total of 388,781 COVID 19 vaccines were administered including 266,062 first dose and 175,745 complete dose.
extension, and other projects; Consultative assistance in the deployment of OJT students and among others.
Meanwhile, Arcega expressed his gratitude and admiration for the consistency and support of the local government unit to CCSFP.
“To the City Government of San Fernando, thank you. Always be reminded that the investment you’re putting into CCSFP will bring the city to the farthest destination. We are not building structures here; we are building lives. Thank you for continuously believing that education is the only way for us to have social equity and social justice. Thank you so much for your investment because it is only through education that we are able to liberate the young from poverty. Thank you for allowing the people of San Fernando not to be born poor and not to end up poor,” Arcega said. (City of San Fernando Information Office)