CIT-U heightens security following reported threat; students face long queues outside campus

Mitz Julianne Gabutan

Students of Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) in Cebu City faced long queues at campus entrances, extending beyond nearby establishments as early as 7:00 a.m. on October 5 for morning classes, as the university tightened security following a reported threat last September 25.

In a Facebook post by The Technologian, CIT-U’s official student publication, the line at the front gate along N. Bacalso Avenue stretched past Cebu Home Builders, while the back gate queue reached toward Blueprint Café along Tres de Abril.

For Javril Treyes, a first-year college student, the new security policy was manageable but poorly implemented. 

Based on her observation and her friends’ experiences, the system was inconvenient, particularly at the back gate, where students had to queue along the road under the heat.

“Especially at the back gate, it is very difficult to line up because it is already along the road, and it is also very hot,” Treyes told Explained PH in Cebuano. 

“It is time-consuming as well. No matter how early you arrive, there is still a line when you get there,” she added.

It can be recalled that CIT-U shifted to online modality last September 25 due to unknown reasons as the Philippine National Police (PNP) conducted an investigation in the campus. 

“Due to ongoing PNP investigation, all classes will shift to online modality effective immediately,” the university’s statement read in a Facebook post.

Enhanced safety arrangements

CIT-U released on October 2 an enhanced campus safety and traffic arrangements as part of its preparations for the resumption of onsite classes for October 5. 

Students, parents and guardians, visitors, and other authorized personnel are now required to cooperate with the security screening procedures, such as walk-through metal detector and individual backpack checking, upon entering the campus.

For drop-off and pick-up, people may stay at the designated area for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Elementary students will have a designated waiting area near the drop-off and pick-up point, where Non-Academic Scholars will assist them in reaching their classrooms or other designated areas until their parents arrive.

Drivers with parking stickers who may wait longer may park outside the campus at the former Budget Builders, Inc. across Gaisano Grand Jai Alai.

A shuttle will ferry students from the new lot to the university about every 15 minutes during peak hours, or whenever it is full, depending on traffic flow, and about every 30 minutes after peak hours. 

Students who prefer to walk may do so under the guidance and supervision of assigned security personnel along a designated route, with guards stationed at designated points along N. Bacalso Avenue.

“The University will continue to assess the situation and adjust security and traffic arrangements as necessary based on verified information, operational conditions, and guidance from the appropriate authorities,” the university stated.

Tracing back

The day after the University’s announcement on the class modality shift, September 26, the institution in a Facebook post announced that no firearm, suspicious object, or indication of an imminent physical threat were found during the PNP’s probe.

However, in the evening of the same day, the university suspended in-person classes anew, beginning September 27 until further notice.

On September 28, CIT-U announced an advisory that classes will continue to be handled via online modality from September 29 to October 4, as the university “continues to exercise heightened vigilance and review appropriate safety and security measures.”