CONSTRUCTION of an administration building and the hiring of professors from the University of San Jose Recoletos (USJ-R) are being readied for the Cagayan de Oro City College, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy said.

During his Friday program, Mayor Uy said he was told by interim City College president Jestoni Babia that there were professors and faculty of USJ-R, one of Cebu’s premier Catholic educational institutions who are ‘ready and willing’ to help the City College.

In disclosing the offer, Mayor Uy said he and Babia, who was appointed interim president of the Cagayan de Oro City College, are fellow graduates of USJ-R, one of Cebu’s oldest premier Catholic schools.

“USJ-R’s official color of green (the other being gold) was my choice of color for our party and I usually (acknowledge and look back on) where I came from,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.

CITY COLLEGE. Mayor Rolando Uy says work on the City College’s administration building will start before yearend. CIO photo grab

Uy said Babian is helping to expedite the processing of requirements for the City College’s four-year courses.

“(His appointment as interim president is crucial) and I’m thankful for this development because the deadline given by (Commission on Higher Education) for the creation of the City College already expired,” Uy said in Visayan.

With Babia’s appointment, Mayor Uy said Ched gave the city a Sept. 30 deadline to start work on the City College.

“Were it not for the approval (for funding) by the 20th City Council before the Sept. 30 deadline, the City College may have to open in 2025. I thank the council for their support,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan, adding that construction of the school’s administration building may start before year-end.

During last Wednesday’s program, ‘Ang Inyong Konseho Karon’ hosted by the City Information Office, Vice Mayor Jocelyn Rodriguez said the council will support the creation of the City College since it will benefit the children of families living in the city’s hinterland barangays.

About 60 hectares were donated by a lumad community in Barangay Dansolihon to the city as the future site for the Cagayan de Oro City College. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)