Audit of P10.3 billion free tuition fund sought

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has sought an audit of the P10.3-billion budget for free tuition and living allowance of poor students in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private higher education institutions (HEIs).

Northern Samar Rep. Paul Daza called for the audit, saying he is disappointed with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which is supposed to oversee the implementation of the program under its Higher Education Development Fund.

The fund came from the earnings of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.and Professional Regulation Commission as well as proceeds from the travel tax.

“Those funds are earmarked by law and cannot be used outside of their specified purpose,” Daza said.

He was reacting to complaints by the Association of Higher Education Institutions in Soccsksargen against CHED for non-payment of scholarships under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education.

Under UniFAST, scholars are to be provided P30,000 per semester for tuition and living allowance.

CHED is supposed to remit the funding to SUCs, local universities and colleges or  private HEIs.

Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act ensures that all eligible Filipinos have access to adequate and equitable education.

“I am really disappointed with CHED. The President probably should order an internal review of the CHED’s performance, including the attrition rate and dropout rate of Filipino students,” Daza said.

He cited reports of a 30 to 40 percent dropout rate, with only 60 out of 100 students able to graduate.

“You have P10 billion but you don’t use it,” Daza said. ”I suspect there is a hidden agenda. That should be reviewed and investigated by the Commission on Audit and Malacañang.”