ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Government is gearing up for a major expansion of the Iloilo City Community College (ICCC) with the development of a new campus at the Fort San Pedro site in the City Proper.
The project, first announced by Mayor Raisa Treñas in her First 100 Days Report in October, reflects the city’s commitment to providing accessible, free, and inclusive education for the youth of Iloilo City.
“This expansion shows our promise to every young Ilonggo who wants a better future. With a bigger and better ICCC campus, we can open more opportunities, support more Ilonggo families, and help guide the next generation of leaders for our city,” said Mayor Treñas.
She emphasized that education will continue to be a priority under the Rising Health and Social Services pillar of the city’s Rise-To-Action Framework.
At present, ICCC serves over 1,300 students across four degree programs. These include Non-Board Courses such as Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA) and Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management (BSTM) and Board Courses namely Bachelor of Science in Criminology (BSCrim) and Bachelor of Special Needs Education major in Early Childhood Education (BSNEd–ECED).
Despite receiving more than 1,000 applicants each school year, ICCC can only admit around 300 students due to limited classroom space at its current M.H. Del Pilar campus in Molo district.
As a local government–run college, ICCC provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to indigent but deserving students through Commission on Higher Education (CHED) subsidies.
Meanwhile, faculty salaries, program directors, teaching and non-teaching staff, job hires, contractuals, and part-time instructors are funded through the Iloilo City Government’s General Fund and MOOE – an enduring testament to the city’s investment in education.
MORE STUDENTS AND NEW COURSES TO BE ACCOMMODATED
The proposed expansion at Fort San Pedro marks a significant milestone for ICCC.
The new campus will feature six school buildings with 45 classrooms, along with an administrative building, library, computer laboratory, school clinic, virtual office, and a covered gymnasium – all designed to support a modern and conducive learning environment.
Once completed, the expanded campus will allow ICCC to accept more students annually and offer new and in-demand programs, including Bachelor of Science in Information Technology, Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and other industry-aligned courses.
Through the upcoming Fort San Pedro campus, the city aims to open wider doors of opportunity, uplift more families, and strengthen Iloilo’s future by empowering its young learners./PN