A critical hurdle has been cleared, bringing much-needed relief to 54 Education graduates of Bacolod City College (BCC) from Batch 2025, with the Commission on Higher Education allowing them to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) this September.
Of the total, 25 graduated from the Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) program majoring in Mathematics, while 29 were from BSEd, majoring in Filipino. The issuance of the CHEd special order (SO) clears the graduates to proceed with their LET applications, resolving months of uncertainty regarding their eligibility and bringing relief to the aspiring educators, the city said.
Mayor Greg Gasataya explained that the concern was formally raised as early as August last year and required extensive coordination with CHEd to address compliance issues, particularly the lack of qualified academic signatories needed for the SO.
“We received this concern last August. There were many details that needed to be ironed out because CHEd approval was required. We worked on it step by step until the matter was finalized during our meeting Dec. 22. By the first week of January, everything was already in place,” Gasataya said.
He clarified that graduates could not be issued an SO without full compliance with CHEd requirements, including qualified academic officials and faculty specializing in Mathematics and Filipino.
“To obtain the required document from CHEd, the institution must first comply with specific requirements. You need a dean, teachers, and program heads who specialize in Mathematics and Filipino. These were not in place before, which is why there were no authorized signatories when the students graduated,” the mayor told the graduates.
“When I assumed office, we immediately worked to secure teachers with the proper expertise in Mathematics and Filipino. Once these requirements were complied with, CHEd promptly issued the SO, as this was the only remaining requirement. Without a special order, CHEd could even order the closure of the program due to non-compliance. That is why we facilitated and pursued this matter diligently,” he added.
Gasataya assured the graduates that the city government remains committed to supporting their board examination preparations. “We will not abandon this effort. We are finalizing the review assistance and the necessary requirements to ensure that you will have something to use for your preparation. It may not be big, but at least there is support. We will find ways to assist you so the burden will be lighter. This issue will no longer be a problem for future batches because it has already been resolved. Good luck and God bless. We are hopeful that you will not only take the exam but also pass.”
The graduates expressed relief and gratitude following the mayor’s announcement Feb. 4, the city said in a press release.
Jusin Junsay, a BSEd Filipino graduate from Barangay Vista Alegre and an SK kagawad, said the approval allowed them to finally breathe easy after months of uncertainty. “We are very thankful for the effort extended to us. We are truly grateful. It feels like we can finally breathe freely knowing that we can now pursue the LET.”
Louiela Rose Ambata, a BSEd Mathematics graduate from Barangay Mansilingan currently working from home as a virtual assistant, shared that they nearly lost hope after learning about issues concerning their application and school accreditation. “We are very grateful that we will be able to take the LET this September. We are fortunate that this was resolved, and now we can move forward with our dreams.” ||
