Cordillera SUCs push for Regional university system

By Lito Dar

BANAUE Ifugao -- The Cordillera Administrative Region Association of State University and Collegesin line with President Aquino’s vision to have a very strong higher education in the country is set to establish a Cordillera Region University System.

Ifugao State University president Dr. SerafinNgohayon in behalf of the CARASUC presented this during the recent Regional Development Council meeting here at the Banaue Hotel.

Ngohayonsaid President Aquino’s vision for higher education institutions, both public and private is to have a strong and shared (not competing) role in producing highly competent professional human resource.

Ngohayonadded President Aquino’s budget priorities in public higher education, particularly for SUCs, is focused on five sector or industry namely electronics and semi-conductor, Business Process Outsourcing, tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and infrastructure.

He said that CARASUC is now in the process of creating CRUS through an amalgamation process.
According to Ngohayon, CARASUC, which is composed of six SUCs in Cordillera, believe and agree that there is a need for them to strengthen their capacity to offer quality higher education here in the region.

“If we come together through amalgamation, we can become stronger. Together is better, stronger and cost-effective. By coming together we can pursue mutual objectives at lesser cost and we can even maximize and gain from the strength and expertise of each other,” Ngohayon said.

“Through amalgamation, we aim to expand capacity, improve quality, instill equality and equity and institute inter-campus student mobility; to be more focused on the use of resources (in terms of effectiveness and efficiency); and to improve the performance, standing and integrity of SUCs”, Ngohayon added.

He said through amalgamation, CARASUC aims to have: a common curriculum for easy credit transfer; stronger International Programs; availability of twinning and dual degree programs; easy student exchanges and joint study programs; faculty exchanges and IT supported instruction; mutual use of facilities; and active complementation of research and extension activities.

Ngohayon also stressed they are now advocating the creation of CRUS. “We would like to push and gain the understanding of various stakeholders, students, faculty members and political leaders starting here in RDC and to decide which route are we going to pursue for such purpose” he said.

Ngohayonadded they are requesting the RDC to give them inputs in the concept of amalgamation being pushed by the government, through the Commission of Higher Education and the Department of Budget and Management and for RDC to give support to the direction that CARASUC will take after they finished consultation.


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6 Cagayan jail escapees 'armed and dangerous'
TUGUEGARAO CITY -- Police have launched manhunt operations against six inmates, described as armed and dangerous, after they bolted the Cagayan provincial jail early Monday morning after grabbing the guns of their jail guards.

Senior Supt. Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director, identified the escapees as Vincent Badajos, Jong Romero, Kevin Chua, Christopher Tasi, Harris Tasi, and Agustin Kawilan.

Aplasca described the escapees as “hardened criminals responsible for various heinous crimes and are armed and dangerous.”

Cagayan Gov. Alvaro Antonio offered a P100,000 reward for the re-arrest of each of the jailbreakers.
Aplasca said initial investigation showed that the jailbreak took place at around 6:45 a.m. as jail guards were conducting their routine morning inspection.

As the guards opened their cell, the six inmates poked a handgun at them, grabbed the keys of the detention cell, and locked them up. Then they boarded a tricycle.

Aplasca said joint police and jail teams are now conducting manhunt and dragnet operations to re-arrest the escapees.