CHED finding ways to help PDAF scholars

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is looking for ways to cover the unpaid tuition of scholars funded by the pork barrel of lawmakers, following the Supreme Court (SC)’s order to hold the release of the remaining P24.79-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).

“We will work something out so that students do not suffer. Right now things are still confusing,” CHED chair Patricia Licuanan said.

“We are studying the issue [and] looking for solutions but like I said, it is quite challenging,” she added.

This school year, CHED has allocated more than P706 million in scholarships for 52,517 beneficiaries under the Student Financial Assistance Programs.

Last week the high court granted the consolidated petitions of former senatorial candidate Greco Belgica and former Boac, Marinduque Mayor Pedrito Nepomuceno questioning the constitutionality of PDAF and the use of Malampaya Funds for projects not related to energy.

Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento earlier appealed to CHED to issue a guarantee that would allow scholars funded by PDAF to continue their studies for the remaining of the school year.

“Shall we allow them to stop their studies because the funds coming from the PDAF for fiscal year 2013 have been put on hold by a recent Supreme Court TRO (temporary restraining order)?” Sarmiento said.