The Bacolod City College is part of the anti-poverty program of Mayor Evelio Leonardia and is considered one of his best legacies to less-privileged Bacolodnons and the future generation, Emergency Operations Center Executive Director Em Legaspi-Ang said Monday, April 4.
Ang, who represented Leonardia during the ribbon-cutting ceremonies of the BCC’s photo exhibit highlighting the college’s 25th anniversary at SM City Mall, said “BCC is an anti-poverty program meant to break the cycle of poverty. It is the aspiration of poor but deserving students to finish higher education.”
BCC students and school officials led by College Administrator, Dr. Ma. Johanna Ann Bayoneta, were present at the exhibit opening.
Simultaneous ribbon-cutting ceremonies for BCC photo exhibits were also held at the Ayala Malls Capitol Central and Robinson’s Place Bacolod that were keynoted by Councilor Renecito Novero, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Education.
The BCC, which silver anniversary is anchored on the theme “BCC@25: Building Careers, Changing Lives”, has produced over 12, 000 graduates, including board topnotchers of Professional Licensure Examinations.
Bayoneta said when BCC opened its doors, it charged poor students P30 per unit as against more than P300 toP400 plus per unit at local private schools.
But today, qualified students and their families do not have to pay a single cent to earn a college degree, she said.
In addition to free tuition, eligible students also avail of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to support the other cost of tertiary education, she said.
TES student beneficiaries receive P20, 000 per semester.
The BCC photo exhibit will until April 17 at the three malls.*