Bacolod City College Education Graduates Cleared for LET After Special Order Issuance
In a significant development for aspiring educators in Bacolod City, the fifty-four Education graduates of Bacolod City College from Batch 2025 have finally received clearance to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers this September. This milestone follows the release of a crucial Special Order from the Commission on Higher Education last week, as confirmed by Mayor Greg Gasataya.
Resolution of Compliance Issues
Mayor Gasataya emphasized that the issuance of the Special Order resolves months of uncertainty regarding the graduates' eligibility, providing much-needed hope and relief. The concern was formally raised as early as August 2025 and required extensive coordination with CHED to address compliance issues. A key obstacle was the lack of qualified academic signatories needed for the Special Order, particularly in the specialized fields of Mathematics and Filipino.
Of the fifty-four graduates, twenty-five are from the Bachelor of Secondary Education program majoring in Mathematics, while twenty-nine are from BSEd majoring in Filipino. Gasataya detailed the timeline, noting that the matter was finalized during a meeting on December 22, 2025, with everything in place by the first week of January.
Addressing Authorization Challenges
The mayor explained that without full compliance with CHED requirements, including having qualified academic officials and faculty specializing in Mathematics and Filipino, the graduates could not be issued a Special Order. Previously, the institution lacked authorized signatories when the students graduated, as these specialized roles were not in place.
"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 Special Order, as this was the only remaining requirement," Gasataya stated. He added that without this document, CHED could have ordered the closure of the program due to non-compliance, underscoring the urgency of their diligent efforts.
Support and Future Prospects
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," he said.
He also highlighted that this issue will no longer be a problem for future batches, as it has been fully resolved. With the CHED Special Order in place, all succeeding batches graduating under BSEd major in Filipino and BSEd major in Mathematics will be eligible to take the LET, ensuring better opportunities for future aspiring educators in Bacolod City.
Graduates Express Relief and Gratitude
The graduates have expressed immense relief and gratitude following the announcement. Jusin Junsay, a BSEd Filipino graduate from Barangay Vista Alegre who is currently working as an SK Kagawad, shared, "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 working as a Virtual Assistant, added, "Thank you, Mayor, because this gives us relief. We are very grateful that we will be able to take the LET this September. Last December, we almost lost hope when we were told that our application might not be approved due to accreditation concerns. We are fortunate that this was resolved, and now we can move forward with our dreams."
This resolution marks a pivotal step forward for education in Bacolod City, empowering a new generation of teachers to achieve their professional goals.
