CHED acknowledges delay in release of scholars' benefits | ABS-CBN
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CHED acknowledges delay in release of scholars' benefits
CHED acknowledges delay in release of scholars' benefits
File photo ABS-CBN News
File photo ABS-CBN NewsMANILA — The Commission on Higher Education admitted “significant delay” in the release of grants for beneficiaries of tertiary education subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong programs.
MANILA — The Commission on Higher Education admitted “significant delay” in the release of grants for beneficiaries of tertiary education subsidy (TES) and Tulong Dunong programs.
Pangasinan 6th district Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas pointed out during the budget hearing for CHED that the release of grant or scholarship has been delayed for a year already, with only some 335 out of 1,131 qualified grantees her office has endorsed receiving their subsidy for the first semester of school year 2023-2024 and none yet for the second semester of the last school year.
Pangasinan 6th district Rep. Marlyn Primicias-Agabas pointed out during the budget hearing for CHED that the release of grant or scholarship has been delayed for a year already, with only some 335 out of 1,131 qualified grantees her office has endorsed receiving their subsidy for the first semester of school year 2023-2024 and none yet for the second semester of the last school year.
“Kung minsan tuloy akala nila hindi sila totoong scholars dahil hanggang ngayon walang natanggap. Yung iba naman sabi nila, 'ma'am, nakatanggap naman pero na i-stop, wala na kaming natatanggap ngayon',” Agabas said.
“Kung minsan tuloy akala nila hindi sila totoong scholars dahil hanggang ngayon walang natanggap. Yung iba naman sabi nila, 'ma'am, nakatanggap naman pero na i-stop, wala na kaming natatanggap ngayon',” Agabas said.
“Ang concern ko, Madam Chair, kung kailan mabibigay kaya ang first semester, at kung kailan din maibibigay ang second semester? Kasi karamihan ng mga bata...hindi na niya alam na darating ang pera,” Agabas said, adding that the concerned students may already have left school by the time funds arrived.
“Ang concern ko, Madam Chair, kung kailan mabibigay kaya ang first semester, at kung kailan din maibibigay ang second semester? Kasi karamihan ng mga bata...hindi na niya alam na darating ang pera,” Agabas said, adding that the concerned students may already have left school by the time funds arrived.
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The CHED said funds are still with the DBM and are already “for release. ”
The CHED said funds are still with the DBM and are already “for release. ”
The commission, in July, requested the release of P1.3 billion in subsidies for grantees in the whole country for the concerned semester of the last school year.
The commission, in July, requested the release of P1.3 billion in subsidies for grantees in the whole country for the concerned semester of the last school year.
The CHED also explained it needed time to validate the requests and consolidate the documentary requirements of COA before it could submit to DBM its request for funding.
The CHED also explained it needed time to validate the requests and consolidate the documentary requirements of COA before it could submit to DBM its request for funding.
CHEd chair Prospero de Vera added the CHED also had to disburse an additional P1 billion worth of SMART (Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition) scholars and P2.7 billion for grantees in areas with “no SUC (state university or college), no LUC (local university or college).
CHEd chair Prospero de Vera added the CHED also had to disburse an additional P1 billion worth of SMART (Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition) scholars and P2.7 billion for grantees in areas with “no SUC (state university or college), no LUC (local university or college).
De Vera said the agency is “trying to catch up as fast as we can” in disbursing funds for the beneficiaries.
De Vera said the agency is “trying to catch up as fast as we can” in disbursing funds for the beneficiaries.
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“Para sa first semester ng 2023, wala pa ang tseke. That is the status. We are technically speaking one year delayed,” said Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, who is also vice chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations.
“Para sa first semester ng 2023, wala pa ang tseke. That is the status. We are technically speaking one year delayed,” said Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo, who is also vice chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations.
“Lahat po 'yan ay ginawa for 2023 kaya po talagang ang mga tao ng CHED sa region hindi po kaya ang ganoong kalaki na funding na i-disburse. So, we admit that there is a delay and we are trying to catch up as fast as we can,” de Vera told the Committee on Appropriations.
“Lahat po 'yan ay ginawa for 2023 kaya po talagang ang mga tao ng CHED sa region hindi po kaya ang ganoong kalaki na funding na i-disburse. So, we admit that there is a delay and we are trying to catch up as fast as we can,” de Vera told the Committee on Appropriations.
“I admit that there was a significant delay because the efforts was really to prioritize the 'No SUC, No LUC' payment, which is about P2.7 billion upon the instruction of Congress and the P1 billion SMART campus. Yun po ang ginawa until the first quarter of this year so na delay po doon sa Tulong Dunong at TES,” De Vera said.
“I admit that there was a significant delay because the efforts was really to prioritize the 'No SUC, No LUC' payment, which is about P2.7 billion upon the instruction of Congress and the P1 billion SMART campus. Yun po ang ginawa until the first quarter of this year so na delay po doon sa Tulong Dunong at TES,” De Vera said.
DELAY IN RELEASE OF SCHOLARSHIPS
Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raoul Manuel expressed support for the allocation of more funds for education subsidy and free higher education but questioned the delay in the release of CHED scholarship funds by one to two semester leading students to shell out money and get reimbursed later.
Kabataan Party-List Rep. Raoul Manuel expressed support for the allocation of more funds for education subsidy and free higher education but questioned the delay in the release of CHED scholarship funds by one to two semester leading students to shell out money and get reimbursed later.
“Kesa sana ay nakaluwag na sila sa gastusin, eh, mag-shell out pa rin sila tapos later on ire-reimburse. Ano po ang proactive na puwedeng magawa ng CHED dito sa ganitong issues ng delayed na pagdating ng scholarship?” Manuel asked.
“Kesa sana ay nakaluwag na sila sa gastusin, eh, mag-shell out pa rin sila tapos later on ire-reimburse. Ano po ang proactive na puwedeng magawa ng CHED dito sa ganitong issues ng delayed na pagdating ng scholarship?” Manuel asked.
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De Vera explained the agency cannot release additional funds if schools still have unliquidated funds, adding the agency wants to ensure strict compliance with auditing rules.
De Vera explained the agency cannot release additional funds if schools still have unliquidated funds, adding the agency wants to ensure strict compliance with auditing rules.
De Vera said the agency is working to improve the system and “work with universities to hasten liquidation.”
De Vera said the agency is working to improve the system and “work with universities to hasten liquidation.”
“So kung hindi po efficient yung university na mag-disburse ng TES (Tertiary Education Subsidy), hindi po makakuha yan ng additional TES. That has been a problem for the past three years already. What we have done is to simplify the process of liquidation and we hold a lot of workshops with the universities to hasten it para po pwede silang tumanggap,” de Vera said, adding that the same applies to scholarships.
“So kung hindi po efficient yung university na mag-disburse ng TES (Tertiary Education Subsidy), hindi po makakuha yan ng additional TES. That has been a problem for the past three years already. What we have done is to simplify the process of liquidation and we hold a lot of workshops with the universities to hasten it para po pwede silang tumanggap,” de Vera said, adding that the same applies to scholarships.
Manuel also questioned the inclusion of CHED in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and its legal basis, saying the agency has no mandate. De Vera said the list of members has been expanded to include “secretaries of all major line departments.”
Manuel also questioned the inclusion of CHED in the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and its legal basis, saying the agency has no mandate. De Vera said the list of members has been expanded to include “secretaries of all major line departments.”
“Ang mandate po namin ay information dissemination to the higher education institutions because the NTF-ELCAC disseminates government programs and information to the students. Doon po kami pupumunta sa information dissemination. Kung may mga request ang mga agencies o may mga activities na popondohan, we mobilize the higher education institutions to be venues for information dissemination of government agencies,” De Vera said.
“Ang mandate po namin ay information dissemination to the higher education institutions because the NTF-ELCAC disseminates government programs and information to the students. Doon po kami pupumunta sa information dissemination. Kung may mga request ang mga agencies o may mga activities na popondohan, we mobilize the higher education institutions to be venues for information dissemination of government agencies,” De Vera said.
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Manuel responded: “Habang may mga programa naman sana ng CHED na gusto pa sana natin dagdagan ng pondo, pero tingin din natin ay hindi talaga na ma best talaga ang pag iimplement ng mga to hanggang hati ang atensyon ng CHED tapos dinadagdagan pa siya ng ganoong trabaho na actually ay taliwas doon sa kanyang mandato with the task force that even endangers yung constituents na dapat ay protektahan pa lalo na ang mga estudyante natin at saka yung mga faculty.”
Manuel responded: “Habang may mga programa naman sana ng CHED na gusto pa sana natin dagdagan ng pondo, pero tingin din natin ay hindi talaga na ma best talaga ang pag iimplement ng mga to hanggang hati ang atensyon ng CHED tapos dinadagdagan pa siya ng ganoong trabaho na actually ay taliwas doon sa kanyang mandato with the task force that even endangers yung constituents na dapat ay protektahan pa lalo na ang mga estudyante natin at saka yung mga faculty.”
INCREASE IN NURSES
The Commission on Higher Education meanwhile reported an increasing number of nursing graduates by opening new nursing programs.
The Commission on Higher Education meanwhile reported an increasing number of nursing graduates by opening new nursing programs.
CHEd chair de Vera told the Committee on Appropriations that the commission has authorized 38 additional higher education institutions (HEIs) nursing programs bringing the number of total HEIs offering nursing to 371.
CHEd chair de Vera told the Committee on Appropriations that the commission has authorized 38 additional higher education institutions (HEIs) nursing programs bringing the number of total HEIs offering nursing to 371.
De Vera also pointed out an improved passing rate in the nursing licensure exams.
De Vera also pointed out an improved passing rate in the nursing licensure exams.
“We project by 2026 ... we will have an additional 2,972 students and we are heartened by the fact that the passing rate for nursing licensure has significantly improved from less than 50 percent before COVID, it is now up to 78.44 percent in 2023,” de Vera said.
“We project by 2026 ... we will have an additional 2,972 students and we are heartened by the fact that the passing rate for nursing licensure has significantly improved from less than 50 percent before COVID, it is now up to 78.44 percent in 2023,” de Vera said.
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“So, by increasing the number of nursing schools, increasing the number of schools and with the improved passing rate, we are on the way to producing more nurses on a year to year basis,” he added.
“So, by increasing the number of nursing schools, increasing the number of schools and with the improved passing rate, we are on the way to producing more nurses on a year to year basis,” he added.
The CHEd has also launched an enhanced master’s program for nurses in nursing education “which can effectively reduce the time to get a master’s degree.” “We do this by recognizing prior learning of the nursing faculty and also doing flexible learning and online learning to get their degrees,” de Vera said.
The CHEd has also launched an enhanced master’s program for nurses in nursing education “which can effectively reduce the time to get a master’s degree.” “We do this by recognizing prior learning of the nursing faculty and also doing flexible learning and online learning to get their degrees,” de Vera said.
The agency has also implemented a special nursing review program for underboard nursing graduates employed in public and private hospitals as part of the implementation of the DOH-CHED JAO No. 1-2023 in upskilling of clinical care associates (CCA).
The agency has also implemented a special nursing review program for underboard nursing graduates employed in public and private hospitals as part of the implementation of the DOH-CHED JAO No. 1-2023 in upskilling of clinical care associates (CCA).
Meanwhile, the CHED has identified an ongoing problem for “supply and demand” for radiologic technologists and supply problem in 3-5 for medical technologists, physical therapists, and in pharmacy.
Meanwhile, the CHED has identified an ongoing problem for “supply and demand” for radiologic technologists and supply problem in 3-5 for medical technologists, physical therapists, and in pharmacy.
De Vera said the agency is now implementing interventions in radiologic technology starting 2024 and is developing a master plan to address challenges for other health manpower.
De Vera said the agency is now implementing interventions in radiologic technology starting 2024 and is developing a master plan to address challenges for other health manpower.
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The agency is proposing a P31.68 billion budget for 2025, with more than P26.2 billion proposed for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act that covers free higher education, tertiary education subsidy and Tulong Dunong programs.
The agency is proposing a P31.68 billion budget for 2025, with more than P26.2 billion proposed for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act that covers free higher education, tertiary education subsidy and Tulong Dunong programs.
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