Only 933 scholars not given allowances – CHED

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) yesterday said only 933 scholars – and not 9,500 as claimed by critics – have not received their allowances due to their failure to submit the documents required by the agency.

CHED chair Patricia Licuanan belied claims that thousands of scholars under the commission’s K-12 transition program have yet to receive their allowances.

“We in CHED deeply regret the impact the delays have caused our scholars,” said Licuanan, admitting that 4,096 faculty scholars initially experienced delays in the release of their allowances.

Licuanan said of the 4,096 scholars, 2,051 already received their allowances in full after submitting complete documentary requirements. The 1,011 scholars who have pending requirements but have valid contracts and enrollment forms have received part of their living allowances.

She said the balance will be released upon submission of remaining documents to the CHED regional offices.

According to CHED, 933 scholars will receive no allowances due to non-submission of enrollment forms.

“We request our scholars with pending documentary submissions to please submit the remaining requirements to the CHED regional offices at the soonest possible time so that we can facilitate the release of allowances to our remaining grantees,” said Licuanan.

“It is important to understand the factors that contributed to these delays: among them, discrepancies and deficiencies in documents, the volume of documentation that required thorough vetting following initial audit, and the need to abide by government accounting and auditing rules, which we, as an agency, also had to comply with,” she added.