CHED downplays irregularities in use of funds

MANILA, Philippines - Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Patricia Licuanan downplayed yesterday a Commission on Audit (COA) report on alleged irregularities in the CHED’s  disbursement of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) funds for scholars.

Licuanan told The STAR in a text message she will provide further clarifications on the COA report tomorrow.

“We have already discussed COA audit observations with them,” she said. “These are old findings which we have already handled.”  

Licuanan is currently out of the country with her family. 

In a 2012 report released last week, COA questioned the way CHED scholars were given financial assistance in 2011 using the PDAF of lawmakers and Malacañang’s Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) fund.

The COA said the implementation of the Student Financial Assistance Programs did not adhere to CHED guidelines, rules and regulations.

State auditors questioned CHED’s move to entrust to the office of lawmakers through a memorandum of agreement the power to select, screen, award and determine the amount of the grant to each scholar.

The COA also discovered that claims amounting to P112.6 million were not supported with adequate documents like income tax returns and students’ grades.

Records show CHED cashiers had released checks totaling P18.8 million to people other than the payees or scholars.

Licuanan said they are now looking for other sources of funds to make sure the scholars are able to enroll.

Possible sources of funds are the Higher Education Development Fund, a new allocation from the General Appropriations Act, or the President’s Social Fund, she added.