GMA appoints Carlito Puno as CHED chairman

President Arroyo appointed on Thursday Dr. Carlito Puno as the new chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) replacing Fr. Rolando dela Rosa, who resigned earlier this year.

Puno’s term expires on July 20, 2006. Puno was earlier appointed acting chairman of the CHED after Dela Rosa’s resignation in May.

He was also acting CHED chairman from June to August 2004.

He was unanimously endorsed for the chairmanship of CHED by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC). Puno’s PASUC endorsement was put forward by Dr. Eldigario Gonzales of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) and other PASUC officials, including Dr. Feliciano Rosete of the Ramon Magsaysay Technological University and Dr. Ricardo Wagan of Laguna State Polytechnic College.

Puno said he will continue his campaign to rid CHED of any illegal transactions. He also plans to reorganize the agency.

"I will continue cleaning house," Puno said in a telephone interview. "I will (put) all the programs in order. I have ordered the bids and awards committee to stop the bidding (of the construction of a CHED building). I will turn over to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) the construction of that building, (so) that no one from CHED would take advantage (of the project)."

He earlier said he is not favoring any of the bidders for the project, adding that he only questioned some of the bidders after they failed to comply with the requirements.

He expects that several CHED employees may not be happy with his "housecleaning" to improve the agency’s efficiency.

Puno has introduced major policy and program changes in CHED that were highly appreciated by higher education institutions (HEIs) nationwide.