Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chairperson Prospero de Vera III said the commission is taking “seriously” the allegations raised by Senator Risa Hontiveros that CHEd- Universal Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST) have nearly P7 billion in “questionable releases” for the implementation of its programs.
Hontiveros filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the estimated P7 billion worth of “leakages” flagged by state auditors on CHEd’s implementation of the UniFAST, an attached agency of the commission that handles the free higher education and tertiary education subsidy.
De Vera said the alleged “questionable releases” have been answered squarely by CHEd-UniFAST in its reply to the Commission on Audit (CoA), while observations requiring action from CHEd-UniFAST have been corrected, as these allegations stem from CoA observations from three to four years ago.
“CHEd has always been fully transparent and accountable in its implementation of RA (Republic Act) 10931, or the UAQTE (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education). The beneficiaries of UAQTE are the beneficiaries mandated by the law. No UAQTE funds have been released to students who are not beneficiaries under the law,” he said in a statement issued on Thursday night.
De Vera said CHEd is “ready” to meet with Senator Hontiveros to clarify her concerns.
He added the commission will hold a press conference next week to explain their side.