Cash aid for university faculty, staff illegal?

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  — The giving of the yearly economic relief assistance (ERA) of P30,000 each to the faculty and staff of Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) is not illegal, contrary to the findings of the Commission on Audit.

This was the statement of NORSU president, Dr. Henry Sojor, the other day in reaction to a report, published in a national paper, saying that COA has warned the university of criminal and administrative liability for granting millions of pesos in ERA from 2008 to 2010.

The COA report has recommended NORSU officials to discontinue the disbursement of the unauthorized ERA otherwise they may be held liable for willful violation of the law, according to the published article.

Sojor, in an interview with the local media, admitted that faculty and staff of NORSU had benefited from this ERA, but said it has the approval of the board of regents based on the charter of state universities and colleges (SUCs), some of which termed it as financial incentives.

The COA report has directed NORSU officials to make a refund, citing records that, last year alone, more than P14.6 million in ERA were given to unnamed university officials and employees, including utility workers and janitors.

Sojor countered that NORSU will make a refund only if the Supreme Court, which is the final arbiter, orders the university to do so.

Over the last three years, NORSU faculty and staff each received a maximum of P30,000 in ERA, but Sojor said the funds were taken from the university’s savings and not from government coffers.

For this year, Sojor has not made any announcement yet regarding the granting of the ERA, even as more than 600 NORSU faculty and staff are now eagerly waiting for its release this week in time of the university’s 84th Founders’ Day celebration. (FREEMAN)