On March 7, 2025, the Local Government Unit of Iligan City conducted a benchmarking visit at the City College of Cagayan de Oro to explore best practices and gain insights for their plan to establish a Technical-Vocational Institution in Iligan City.
The attendees from LGU of Iligan City included key officials such as Ms. Armien A. Alorro, Head of Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department; Mr. Kevin R. Fernan, the Focal Person for Agriculture; Ms. Grace Halibas, Officer-in-Charge for Iligan Investment Incentive Production; Mr. Datu Madrigal Dianalan II, Community Training and Employment Coordinator; and Ms. Jennifer Densing from the Local School Board.
Dr. Ma Aira Chenessa B. Aguilar, the Vice President for Academic Affairs of City College of CDO welcomed the guests and set the stage for the discussions that followed. The focus of the benchmarking session was to gain insights on the offerings and operational practices of City College of CDO, particularly in the field of technical skills training. Dr. Mark Raymond S. Tan, Vice President for Student Affairs and Services outlined the higher education programs and student services offered at City College of CDO.
Moreover, Ms. Mariel L. Curit, Job Linkaging and Networking Services Focal, shared the best practices of the Technical Skills and Technology Institute (TSTI) of City College of CDO in connecting its trainees to real-world industry experience. She highlighted how TSTI effectively facilitates hands-on exposure through Supervised Industry Learning, collaborating with various industry partners across different qualifications.
Following the presentation of the institution's various programs, an open forum was conducted by Ms. Rutche Montano, UTPRAS Officer, and Prof. Mary Vil Acenas, Vocational School Administrator. The discussion focused on the essential components needed to establish a Tech-Voc institution.
As the session drew to a close, the representatives from LGU Iligan expressed their gratitude for the hospitality and insights provided by City College of CDO. They emphasized their interest in maintaining communication and exploring future collaborations to support the establishment of an LGU-operated Tech-Voc institution in their city. Both institutions look forward to continued partnerships that will benefit the education sector and the local community, ensuring that the people of Iligan City have access to valuable technical education and training opportunities.