CHED ensures proper use of K to 12 transition fund

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will properly use the multibillion-peso K to 12 transition fund if Congress approves its proposed budget for 2016, CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan has assured the public.

Licuanan said the programs to be financed by the fund will be planned with a technical working group.

“CHED always works as a collegial body,” Licuanan said. “We will form various groups that will help us in these programs.”

Based on the 2016 National Expenditure Program (NEP), an initial P3 billion from the Higher Education Development Fund will be allotted for the K to 12 basic education program.

“The CHED chairman is authorized to allocate said amount in accordance with the Budget Priorities Framework,” read the NEP.

According to Licuanan, the decision on which projects to approve will not be arbitrarily decided upon by her office as it will include coordination with concerned parties, including the higher education institutions.

“We are always in dialogue with various groups and institutions,” she said.

Projects that may be funded include support for college educators who may be displaced because of the additional two years in basic education.

Latest data from CHED showed that 13,634 college teachers and 11,456 non-teaching staff may be displaced because of the additional two years in basic education.

“We will provide grants for graduate studies, enrichment programs, research,” Licuanan said.

Aside from the P3-billion budget, CHED said it has another P2.275 billion lodged in its built-in budget in case of deficiency. This includes a P1.415-billion allotment under the line item provision of scholarship to faculty members and administrators of higher education institutions.

For 2016, CHED is proposing an increase in its budget from the current P3.4 billion to P10.533 billion.

Outside of the proposal, the commission said it has another P3 billion from the NEP’s unprogrammed funds, under the support for infrastructure projects and social program item. The fund may also be used for K to 12 transition-related programs.