City College of Davao classes start

The City College of Davao (CCD) officially started holding classes on Monday with an opening ceremony on campus grounds in Barangay Catalunan Pequeño.

The college’s first-ever opening ceremony was attended by Mayor Sebastian Duterte, Vice Mayor J Melchor Quitain, City Administrator for Administration Atty. Francis Mark Layog, City Administrator for Operations Janice Luis Esparcia, CCD President Dr. Winifredo Cagape, Councilor Pilar Braga, Councilor Rudolpho Mande, other public officials, and CCD faculty members and students.

Out of more than 700 applicants, 320 were admitted into the CCD. They are enrolled in the three available courses: Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education Major in Heating Ventilation Airconditioning and Refrigeration Technology, and Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education Major in Computer Programming.

Councilor Braga, the main author of the CCD Ordinance, said the college is a legacy of the city’s commitment to foster a more equal and just society through the education of underprivileged youth.

CCD student Sheila Mae Tero, a resident of Matina who is taking up Early Childhood Education, said if it were not for the free education program of the city college, she would not be able to pursue a bachelor’s degree due to financial constraints. She said she applied for many scholarship programs after graduating in 2021 but found none that would cover her educational expenses.

Tero is only one of many students who chose to wait for the CCD to open in order to go to college.

Joylyn Mangcal, another CCD student and a member of the Ovu-Manuvu group from Marilog District, said her acceptance into the college was celebrated by her parents.

“Nalipay kaayo sila (parents) kay walang-wala man pud mi, mao tong naningkamot ko para makapadayun ko’g eskwela kay pobre ra kaayo mi (They were really happy because we don’t have anything, that is why I worked hard to continue my studies because we are very poor),” Mangcal said.

She said many of her classmates come from far-flung barangays and are currently housed as bed spacers or in boarding houses that they could not have afford if it were not for their CCD scholarship.

Mayor Sebastian Duterte urged the students to focus on their studies and trust the city government to provide the material necessities in their educational endeavor. He also asked them to appreciate the chance they are given as not many of their peers are quite as lucky.

Thanking the people behind the realization of the CCD, Duterte vowed that good performance from the institution and its scholars will be awarded with more support, specifically in terms of funding.

“Ang gusto nato mapakita nato na mu-function gyud siya para we can convince the city council na magdungag ta’g unsay pwede idungag para sa inyong eskwelahan para mas munindot pa ang inyohang leanring conditions diri (We want to demonstrate that this is working to convince the city council in letting us add whatever is needed in your school to improve your learning conditions),” the mayor said.

The CCD campus in Catalunan Pequeño is a temporary site that will operate for a maximum of 10 years while its permanent location in Bago Oshiro is being developed. CIO