The Commission on Higher Education on Saturday defended itself from criticisms following a 2014 audit finding that the education regulatory body failed to distribute P1.2 billion appropriated for college scholarships.
“At the time of the exit conference, documentation for the obligation of funds from the CHED regional offices still needed updating, but to date, these reports have already been completed. In fact, by Dec. 31, 2015, the remaining P1.2-billion 2014 budget which had a validity of two years, had been fully obligated with an assurance that the beneficiaries will be paid,” CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan said in a statement.
State auditors early this week questioned CHED for failing to farm out funds for the Student Financial Assistance Program due to lapses on the part of the higher education body.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said the House committee on higher education, of which he is a member, is set to summon concerned CHED officials, including Licuanan to explain the alleged irregularities in a motu propio hearing next week.
Ridon also questioned the P3.13 billion out of P4.87-billion unliquidated funds received by the CHED under the Priority Development Assistance Fund.
State auditors in the same report said that CHED’s failure to do so are caused by “inadequate monitoring mechanisms and enforcement of the liquidation/refund thereof from recipient SUCs” to the higher education body.
Licuanan in response said that with the lawmakers realigning their PDAF allocations in 2013 to the calamity fund and six agencies, including CHED for scholarship assistance to students, it has “tested the carrying capacity of the agency.”
The CHED’s Student Financial Assistance Programs composed of scholarships, grants-in-aid and loans totaling 58,155 slots in the amount of P997 million in AY 2013-2014, ballooned to “nearly seven times to 391,817 slots in AY 2014-2015 amounting to P4.87 billion.”
Licuanan said that with the passage of R.A. 10697 or the new United Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education law, it is “expected to improve the delivery of student financial assistance.”
Under the new bill, all government scholarships and grants-in-aid programs will be harmonized and unified to promote equity and rationalize access to quality higher and technical education for students in need.
Ridon said that the congressional inquiry would look if “criminal acts—even corruption—has transpired.”
Licuanan in response said that “the Commission welcomes any possible inquiry on the matter as an opportunity to set the record straight.”