National officials of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will meet Gov. Gwen Garcia and Cebu mayors on Friday, May 5, 2023, to shed light on why the agency delisted some local universities and colleges (LUCs) in Cebu from their scholarship programs.
The governor has invited CHED Secretary Prospero “Popoy” de Vera III, CHED Executive Director Atty. Cinderea Benitez-Jaro, and Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST) Executive Dir. Atty. Ryan Estevez to answer before her and the mayors about the delisting issue.
During a meeting on Tuesday, May 2, several city and town mayors in Cebu sat down with Gov. Garcia to discuss on the plight of hundreds of scholars affected by the delisting of several SUCs in the UniFAST and Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
Cebu Mayors Gerard Anthony “Samsam” Gullas of Talisay City, Didoy Suan of Cordova, Romeo Villaceran of Madridejos, Lionel Bacaltos of Sibonga, and Ronald Cesante of Dalaguete spoke on
whether their limitations in complying with certain CHED requirements may have caused the removal from the list of qualified schools to get the subsidy.
However, CHED officials represented by UniFAST 7 representative Andre Dominique Pepito and education supervisor Dr. Joey Rivamonte could not readily provide definitive answers sought by the governor and the mayors.
Gov. Gwen asserted that they must "look for a win-win solution here" as consequences of the delisting are now affecting students seeking to pursue their tertiary education.
There were also the concern raised that the delisting may be due to some budgetary cuts in the agency to which the governor raised doubts considering that the budget for these CHED-based scholarships is automatically provided for by the law.
She even raised the possibility of bringing up the issue to Cebuano congressmen to intervene in the matter, especially now that Congress is up to deliberate on the budgets of agencies.
Sugbo News learned that some LUCs in Cebu were delisted by CHED, including Madridejos Community College.
Other Cebu LUCs affected are Talisay City College, Cordova Public College, and Sibonga Community College.
Friday’s meeting will also include regional officials from CHED. |Carlo Lorenciana