Communities benefit from CCDC free legal aid activities

Pursuant to the objective of the Clinical Legal Education Program of law schools to ensure access to justice of the marginalized sectors, the College of Law through its law student practitioners and supervising lawyers, as well as partner agencies/entities, organized and conducted a series of free legal aid sessions across several communities in the Province of Benguet. The initiative aimed to provide accessible legal assistance to residents facing legal challenges, from family law issues to property disputes and criminal justice matters. 

The services provided to address these issues includes free legal consultation and advice, preparation of legal documents, free notarization of simple affidavits and legal assistance for public interest cases, among others. A total of 150 clients were accommodated for the year 2023 in the following areas: municipalities of La Trinidad, Kabayan, and Bokod in Benguet and at the University of the Philippines Baguio, Elpidio Quirino Elementary School, and Session Road in Baguio City. 

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CCDC promulgates mechanisms in dealing with any form of misconduct among its employees and students

Committed. Culturally Aware. Dignified. Civic Oriented.

These are the guiding values of Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC). It is the responsibility of every employee to understand, inculcate, and adhere to these Guiding Values of the institution as every personnel is also granted full trust and confidence.

In upholding dignity, CCDC does not tolerate any form of misconduct in the delivery of its services to stakeholders. Corruption and bribery in exchange for passing grades among students, including misappropriation of funds belonging to the institution and commission of a crime, are classified as Type C or very Serious Offenses and are meted with suspension to exclusion and expulsion or termination as penalties. 

Hence, mechanisms are in place in dealing with any form of misconduct, violation, or grievance among its employees and students. These procedures and processes are published in its school manuals for employees and students. Due process is afforded prior to imposition of any sanction.

DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Disciplinary administrative sanctions may be imposed on a student for the commission of any offense defined in the Code of Discipline of this Handbook.  Other interventions, such as referrals to appropriate professionals may also be done on a case-to-case basis.  Such sanctions may take the form of:

Warning/Reprimand.  These are sanctions meted out for reprehensive conduct or by way of admonishing the erring student that repetition of the offense would subject him to more severe disciplinary measures.

Community Work (Non-Classroom).  These are compulsory work done within the campus, subject to approval of parents, which are aimed to expose students to realities that may help deter misbehavior.

Suspension.  As a penalty imposed for an offense committed, a student may be barred for a certain period from a particular class or from CCDC.

Exclusion.  This is a disciplinary measure which allows an erring student to finish the semester or term but is therefore excluded from returning to the College or when the penalty or expulsion cannot for any reason, extraneous or otherwise, be enforced.

Expulsion.  This is an extreme disciplinary sanction.  As distinguished from exclusion, it is imposed and implemented during the semester or term when the offense was committed which requires the approval of DepEd. 

Chapter 7 of the institution’s Handbook for Students shows the processing of grievances in all levels of the institution.

GRIEVANCE AGAINST FELLOW STUDENTS

1. Any grievance against any fellow students who belong to the Department as that of the complainant shall be addressed to the Program Coordinator who shall conduct necessary preliminary investigation (i.e., notify parent/official guardian about the complaint and the answer in writing shall be noted by the parent/official guardian) and settle the issue.  If unable to do so, the Program Coordinator shall forward the case to the Prefect of Discipline, who shall convene if deemed appropriate a Board of Discipline, who will make necessary recommendations to the President.
2. Any grievance against any fellow students who belong to other College/Departments shall be addressed to the head of student services, who shall inform the concerned Deans/Program Coordinator.  The Prefect of Discipline shall do necessary preliminary investigation and settle the issue.  If unable to do so shall forward the case to the VP Administration, who shall convene if deemed appropriate a Board of Discipline, who shall make recommendations to the President.
3. The functions and composition of the Board of Discipline is based on the directive of the VP Administration but generally to conduct further investigation and come up with recommendations for the President’s final decision.  
4. Any appeal on the decision of the Board of Discipline shall be forwarded to the President for review and final decision.
5. All records of the matter shall be forwarded to the Office of the Program Coordinator under which the respondent belongs.

GRIEVANCE AGAINST ANY FACULTY OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL

Any grievance against any faculty member or school personnel shall be directed to the complainant’s respective Program Coordinator. Upon receipt of such a complaint, the Program Coordinator shall conduct a preliminary investigation and submit facts and recommendation to the Principal to resolve the matter. If unresolved, the matter is referred to the Legal Officer for any appropriate action and recommendation to the President. A copy of the decision of the President shall be furnished to the respondent. All records of the matter shall be forwarded to the HR Office regardless of the level of the office in which the complaint is resolved. 

GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Any grievance against the Program Coordinator shall be brought to the attention of the Vice President for Academics who shall conduct investigation to settle the issue.  Otherwise, the matter is referred to the Legal Officer for any appropriate action and recommendation to the President. A copy of the decision of the President shall be furnished to the respondent. All records of the matter shall be forwarded to the HR Office regardless of the level of the office in which the complaint is resolved. 

GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE VICE PRESIDENT

Any grievance against the Vice Presidents shall be forwarded to the President, who shall conduct, with the help of the Legal Officer, an investigation and settle the case. All records of the matter shall be forwarded to the HR Office.

GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE PRESIDENT

Any grievance against the President shall be filed formally to the Board of Trustees, addressed to the Chairman of the Board through the Board Secretary, the body that shall decide on the matter.  Such a decision will be final and executory.

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CCDC Holds CHILD PROTECTION POLICY, Anti-Bullying Act, and Safe Spaces Act Seminar for CTE Students

In realization of the Institution’s policies and the  United Nation’s SDG, The College of Teacher Education (CTE) incorporates CHILD PROTECTION POLICY, Anti-Bullying Act, and Safe Spaces Act in its pre-service training for its graduating students. With 32 participants, the seminar was held on November 20, 2023 at the  micro teaching  room. It was just one of series of seminars and trainings scheduled to run from November 13-December 20.

Participating student teachers attempt to demonstrate what are allowed and not allowed in the concluded lecture.

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CCDC sustains multi-stakeholder linkages for quality education

            To have strong partnerships, linkages, and networks is one of the institutional key result areas of Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC). The intent of having linkages is to advance the institution’s trilogy functions, namely: instruction, research, and community extension. CCDC’s engagement with the different sectors is an important avenue for providing experiential learning to students while CCDC is given the opportunity to contribute to community building.

            The partnership with linkages is forged and sealed through signing of Memorandum of Agreement. To date, CCDC has inked agreements with diverse stakeholders. The partnership or collaboration is also expressed in other forms such as institutional membership that is renewable on a regular basis.

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Communities benefit from CCDC free legal aid activities

Pursuant to the objective of the Clinical Legal Education Program of law schools to ensure access to justice of the marginalized sectors, the College of Law through its law student practitioners and supervising lawyers, as well as partner agencies/entities, organized and conducted a series of free legal aid sessions across several communities in the Province of Benguet. The initiative aimed to provide accessible legal assistance to residents facing legal challenges, from family law issues to property disputes and criminal justice matters. 

The services provided to address these issues includes free legal consultation and advice, preparation of legal documents, free notarization of simple affidavits and legal assistance for public interest cases, among others. A total of 150 clients were accommodated for the year 2023 in the following areas: municipalities of La Trinidad, Kabayan, and Bokod in Benguet and at the University of the Philippines Baguio, Elpidio Quirino Elementary School, and Session Road in Baguio City. 

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CCDC researchers aid policy making via “Research in Aid of Policy”

“Research in Aid of Policy (RAP)” is one of the initiatives of the Research Program of Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC). In this initiative, students and faculty conduct research with government instrumentalities, private institutions, and organizations as informants, research proponents, or partners. The aim of the program is to gather evidence-based data through qualitative or quantitative research as useful inputs in policy or programs formulation and development.

The findings are then shared to identified beneficiaries, policymakers, and other stakeholders for utilization. The research findings are publicly shared in research conferences. Some are published and others are forwarded to target users in the community. 

In 2023, the following are the research projects conducted by CCDC researchers. Scroll down to view these helpful researches:

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CCDC Academic Freedom Policy Ushers Research Enthusiasts to Diverse Learning Engagements and Opportunities

In the exercise of academic freedom, CCDC has set standards of practice in the delivery of curricular and non-academic programs and services. Academic freedom in Philippine jurisprudence encompasses the independence of an academic institution to determine for itself who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall teach, and who may be admitted to study. 

In the area of teaching-learning and research, CCDC, in its Philosophy Statement, places the student as the center of the educational process and that all efforts of the school are anchored on ensuring access of students to quality education. Moreover, the mission of CCDC is to deliver quality education and services through holistic, accessible, and inclusive learning experiences sustaining culturally sensitive and responsible global citizens and leaders.

In its pursuit to mold students into becoming culturally sensitive and responsible global citizens and leaders, it is the policy of the institution to provide more realistic and borderless learning engagements. One of which is in the area of research where learning goes beyond classroom lectures to exposures with community life, issues, challenges, and realities. 

Research in CCDC is a curricular and professional exercise. The curricular research is an academic requirement whereby students must come up with an academically sound and significant research relevant to their academic field. On the other hand, faculty members are highly encouraged to conduct research as a professional exercise.

 The institution has set its Research Agenda that encompasses the various fields of study. Research enthusiasts are guided by the institutional Research Agenda in determining their research focus. Findings are published, disseminated in conferences, or shared directly to stakeholders.

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CCDC conducts law orientation program to members in Tublay

Law student practitioners of Cordillera Career Development College (CCDC), together with their professor and supervising lawyer, retired judge Adolfo R. Malingan as the resource speaker, provided an orientation lecture to the barangay chairman and lupon members of Tublay Central, Tublay, Benguet on November 17, 2023. This program is in line with the objective of the CCDC Community Legal Aid Center of bringing legal services nearer to the people.

The Barangay Justice System, also known as the Katarungang Pambarangay, provides an alternative mode of dispute resolution to the costly and lengthy process of settling disputes in regular courts. Instead of going through the very technical procedure of filing formal pleadings and presenting evidence in courts, the parties of a dispute are given the opportunity to try and talk to each other and resolve their disputes amicably. 

This activity was conceived considering the recently concluded Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections and upon the request of the proponents in the Barangay Local Government Unit of Tublay Central, Tublay, Benguet. There is a need to conduct an orientation of the law, especially the conciliation proceedings in order to capacitate the implementers with enhanced knowledge and clarify issues and matters as regards the Katarungang Pambarangay Law. 

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Related Researches

Cordillera Career Development College supports the generation of researches which provide outreach, general education, upskilling and capacity-building to policy and lawmakers on relevant topics including economics, law, technology, migration and displacement, and climate change.

Many of the researches conducted by students provide specific expert advice to local, regional or national government through policy guidance, participation in committees, and provision of evidence.

These researches can be freely accessed at the school library where copies of the research are available.

Among the list of these reletad researches conducted from 2019 to 2023 can be found in the files below:

CCDC hosts 1st international online tourism conference

In partnership with the La Trinidad Tourism Office, Cordillera Career Development College hosted a the first virtual conference on tourism and hospitality on January 25, 2022.

The online event brought together tourism stakeholders in the locality in an effort to promote and harmonize efforts to strengthen rural tourism through active cooperation among the local government units, Department of Tourism, tourism and hospitality students, owners of local tourist attractions, and and other stakeholders.

The free event dubbed “Rebuilding Rural Tourism in the Philippines: The Case of Benguet” was held also in partnership with Taylor’s University in Malaysia.

The speakers came from Taylor’s University, La Trinidad Tourism Office, CCDC, Provincial Tourism Office, DOT Regional Office, and the University of the Cordilleras.