The Vice President for Academic Affairs, Atty. Corazon Evangelista – Valencia, delivered a very fulfilling presentation of the 2009 highlights and achievements.  Below is the text from her speech during the CIT Christmas Party held at the Grand Convention Center on December 11, 2009…

There are three things you cannot hide for very long: the sun, the truth, and an excellent institution.

President Gregorio L. Escario, Executive Vice-President and HR Director, Col. Rodolfo A. Lizares, Jr., members of the board of directors, administrative and academic officials, alumni officers, college and high school supreme student government officers, members of the growing CIT family, guests…

No matter how dark the heavens can become, no matter how thick the clouds can get, no matter how long the storm will vent its anger, in the end, the sun will shine through.  No matter how many tyrants will rule a land, the truth shall set a people free.  No matter the odds, Cebu Institute of Technology will survive and prevail.

Last year we had two major achievements, the classification of CIT by CHED-IQuAME as Category A (t) Mature Teaching Institution- the first in southern Philippines and the Outstanding Institution Award from the Cebu City Government.

IQuAME or Institutional Quality Assurance Through Monitoring and Evaluation is a mechanism by which CHED monitors and evaluates the performance of a Higher Education Institution  (HEI) in terms of the effectiveness of the arrangements made by the HEI to manage the quality and standards of its own programs.  It also considers matters on governance, management, student support, and resource allocation.

This year, a difficult one for many schools and many business establishments, CIT accomplished, among other achievements, the ultimate desideratum of private colleges and universities all over the country.  In recognition of its accomplishments, adherence to quality assurance and commitment to public responsibility and accountability as a higher education provider, the Commission on Higher Education pursuant to Commission en banc (CEB) Resolution No. 076-2009 granted Cebu Institute of Technology the Deregulated Status for a period of five (5) years from March 11, 2009 to March 30, 2014.

The selection and identification of schools to be granted autonomous and deregulated status is based on the following general criteria: (1) long tradition of integrity and untarnished reputation, (2)   commitment to excellence, and (3) sustainability and viability of operations.

There are only 42 autonomous and 15 deregulated private higher education institutions in the country. This constitutes less than 4% of the country’s total of 1,443 private higher education institutions.  In Region VII, the institutions which have been granted by CHED the autonomous status for a period of five (5)  years are:  Silliman University, University of San Carlos and University of San Jose-Recoletos. Holy Name University was likewise granted autonomy but  for a period of one (1) year. On the other hand, the HEIs in Region VII granted deregulated status for a period of 5 years are the Cebu Institute of Techonoloy and St. Paul University-Dumaguete. Yesterday, upon order of our president Mr. Gregorio Escario, Dr. Delantar and I flew to Malacañang to receive from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo herself the deregulated status award for CIT.

I shall now present to President Escario the Award of Distinction which I  received from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself.

The TEXT OF THE AWARD reads:

Republic of the Philippines

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Award of Distinction

presented to

CEBU INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

For continuing exemplary performance in the trilogy of functions of a higher education institution namely: instruction, research and public service, and in recognition of the outstanding performance of its graduates, which manifest its genuine commitment to quality, excellence and global competitiveness.

In view of the foregoing, the Commission on Higher Education deem it worthy to confer it the

Deregulated Status

With this accomplishment, crept in our collective will the motivation to take on a greater challenge. We submitted our application for University Status in June 2009.   The University Status, being a distinct honor, is reserved only for truly deserving higher education institutions that have proven their excellence in the areas of instruction, research, and outreach.

This and more exemplifies CIT’s commitment to her Vision and Mission.   Today, December 11, 2009, on occasion of PACUCOA’s 36^th founding year and 20^th annual general assembly, CIT will be recognized as the PACUCOA accredited school with the most number of Accredited Programs in Region VII. This is the fifth consecutive year that CIT is one of the awardees of the PACUCOA.

We now have 11 PACUCOA accredited programs – around 48% of the total 23 undergraduate program offerings- to wit:

Four (4) programs in Level II

• BS Computer Science
• BS Business Administration
• Bachelor of Elementary Education
• Bachelor of Secondary Education

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Seven (7) programs in Level I

• BS Chemical Engineering
• BS Civil Engineering
• BS Mechanical Engineering
• BS Electronics Engineering
• BS Accountancy
• BS Information Technology, and
• BS Psychology.

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On July 30-31, 2009, the following programs underwent PACUCOA consultancy visit and are expected to undergo PACUCOA preliminary visit in March & July 2010:

• Bachelor of Arts (AB) majors in English with Applied Linguistics, Mass Communication, and Graphics and Media
• BS Biology
• BS Mathematics
• BS Architecture
• BS Computer Engineering
• BS Electrical Engineering
• BS Industrial Engineering
• BS Mining Engineering

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The Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation [PACUCOA] is one of the country’s accrediting agencies. Accreditation is the formal recognition of an educational program as possessing high level of quality or excellence based on the analysis of the merits of its educational operations in attaining its objectives and its role in the community that it serves.

In another development, the Mechanical Engineering Department was evaluated by the Technical Panel for Engineering, Technology, and Architecture (TPETA) in connection with its application for Center of Development (COD) last August 2009.  We expect to get the result of that visit this or early next month.

Currently, CIT through the College of Computer Studies is one of only nine schools in the Philippines identified as CHED-Center of Excellence in IT Education.

COEs and CODs are higher education institutions (HEI) both public and private which have demonstrated the highest degree or level of standards along the areas of instruction, research and extension. They provide institutional leadership in the various regions by providing networking arrangements to help ensure the accelerated development of HEIs in their respective service areas.

Next school year, CIT intends to offer the Doctor in Information Technology program in consortium with other Centers of Excellence.  As a Center of Excellence, CIT will be receiving a 1.5 Million grant from CHED in 2010.

CIT ensures that program offerings adhere to CHED policies and standards; hence, we have hosted a number of Regional Quality Assessment Teams (RQAT) and Technical Panel sent by CHED in 2009.

The following new program offerings for SY 2009-2010 have been granted Government Permits: BS Accounting Technology; Master of Arts in Education major in Mathematics; Master of Science in Teaching Mathematics; Master in Business Administration – thesis and non-thesis program; and Master in Public Administration.

Last December 3, 2009, the Technical Panel for Business and Management Education gave positive evaluation on our application for Government Recognition for the Master in Public Administration program.

The following program offerings have been granted Government Recognition: BS Biology ; BS Hotel and Restaurant Management; and BS Tourism Management.

In the efforts to streamline the organization and improve our programs and services, the administration has embarked on the following:

*The re-organization and creation of the following new offices/departments:

Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry Departments are now under the College of Arts and Sciences;

The Computer Engineering Department is now under the College of Engineering and Architecture;

Creation of (3) new departments/offices – Biology Department, Department of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences (DHBS), and the Center for Speech and Communication.

*The adoption of the School Automate System intended to accelerate our processes, improve accuracy and increase the magnitude of services to our clients.

*The launching of the improved CIT Website.

*Construction, renovation, and acquisition of new facilities

*The Bridge Program for incoming first year college students

*the Mock/Simulated Board Examination intended to further prepare our students for the board examinations

*the SPS Awareness Week

*the Continuing Education Program in English, which includes the Let’s Speak Good English! Campaign and conduct of short courses such as the Intensive English for Teachers and the Communication Empowerment Program for Teachers

As an applicant for the university status, we also need to strengthen our research capabilities. The institution has intensified its support to faculty development through research and other scholarly activities. Recently, we have conducted the Seminar-Workshop on Research with CHEDRO VII Director Dr. Amelia Biglete and UP Diliman Professor Dr. Fe’ Josefa Nava as resource persons. Likewise, a number of our faculty members conducted Paper Presentations in various national and international conferences.

In addition, two ME faculty members underwent immersion at LEAR.

In another development, CIT entered into a MOA with SMART Communications, Inc. for the implementation of the Application Develop Intro School Program. SMART trained 3 CCS faculty members and donated 20 computer units.

The CCS Dean Cherry Sta. Romana and IT Chair Larmie Feliscuzo participated in the Training Program for Instructors on ITSS/ITEE in Asian Countries (ENIT) held at Yokohama, Japan from November 11 to December 1, 2009.

CIT recognizes her role in community building; hence, she has been involved with activities that promote community relations and social orientation.

Community Extension Programs were conducted by the different colleges for the adopted Barangay which included the Skills Training; Computer Literacy Training; Livelihood Development Program; Reading and Remediation Program; Mothers Class Personal and Interpersonal Development Program; and Medical and Dental Missions.  On the other hand, the high school department has adopted 25 young residents of Sitio Callejon.

Other community outreach activities included, among others, the CIT Lakbay Serbisyo goes to the Barangays and the COMELEC’s Off-Site Voter’s Registration through the initiative of the Supreme Student Government

The alumni, both local and international, have been CIT’s partner in various undertakings. This year, several lectures were conducted by visiting alumni.

Our performance in Licensure Examinations in 2009 is a good reason to celebrate. In the October 2009 Registered Electronics Engineers Examinations, we have produced a 1^st placer.  In the May, 2009 Registered Electrical Engineers Examinations, we have achieved above national passing and produced the 2^nd and 7^th placers. In the Registered Mechanical Engineers Examinations in April 2009 and October 2009, we have pulled off above national passing and produced a 4^th placer in the April Examinations. Furthermore, CIT is the No. 3 Top Performing School (for 25-85 examinees category) in the April 2009 examinations. In the Registered Civil Engineers Examinations in May 2009, we have produced  the 5^th and 6^th placers and achieved an above national passing.  In the June 2009 Licensure Examination for Architects, we have achieved above national passing and produced an 8^th placer.  In the Licensure Exam for Teachers for April and October 2009 and Nursing Licensure Exam in June 2009 , CIT snatched above national passing percentages.  In addition, in the Master Plumber Licensure Examination in August 2009, we have produced the 3^rd, 8^th and 9^th placers.

In the Philippine National IT Standards (PhilNITS) Examination, April 2009 – 1 CCS faculty and 5 incoming CS/IT 4^th year students passed.

CIT also excelled in various local, regional and national inter-school competitions which are just too many to enumerate.  To mention a few are the following:

• Sun Microsystems Open Jive Challenge 2009 Country Champion. The team composed of CCS students competed in the Grand Finals held in Singapore on July 27-29, 200
• 2009 CESAFI and PRISAA Champion in Math Quiz -
• Champion, ECE Regional Quiz Bowl.  The same ECE team placed 2^nd in the 30^th IECEP Interscholastic quiz held at the Mall of Asia, Pasay City yesterday.  The competition was participated in by 25 schools from the entire country.  1^st place went to PUP and the 3^rd placer was UE-Caloocan.
• Champion, 9^th Regional Math Wizard and the 23^rd Regional Quiz Show during the 5^th IIEE Regional Student Conference
• Top Prize, Ayala Center Cebu’s Eco Art Contest,
• Model Senior Scout, Joseph James L. Bacayo, Search for Model Boy & Girl Scouts in Cebu 2009

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CIT also participated in international competitions such as the country’s 1^st International Sumobot Open and the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Asia Manila Regional Onsite Contest

We have also the following achievements:

• CIT-HS SSG President Sharlou Beltran was elected President of the SSG Division Federation and then, as Vice-President of the Regional Federation of SSG Officers for SY 2009-2010.  Sharlou also qualified for the Japan-East Asia Network Exchange Students and Youths (JENESYS) Scholarship Year Program (YP)
• HS sophomore and varsity team member Mark Jayven Tallo was named MVP of the Jr. NBA Philippine Team
• Champion, 2009 CESAFI Basketball Tournament (Juniors Division)

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There are three things you cannot hide for very long: the sun, the truth, and an excellent institution.  2009 had been dismal and dreary for the rest of the world. And yet, no matter how dark the heavens can become, no matter how thick the clouds can get, no matter how long the storm will vent its anger, in the end, the sun will shine through.  No matter how long the confusion and disorientation, the truth shall set a people free.  No matter the odds, with your selflessness, your sacrifices, your dedication to our common cause, our vision and our mission, Cebu Institute of Technology will survive and prevail.

Congratulations to all and Merry Christmas!