CHED seeks private sector’s help in repairing damaged schools

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) yesterday sought the private sector’s help in repairing public higher education institutions (HEIs) damaged by Typhoon Yolanda last month.

CHED Chairman Patricia Licuanan said 44 HEIs in the Visayas and parts of southern Luzon were destroyed by Yolanda.

Of the 44 HEIs, 22 are state universities and colleges, 20 are private and two are local universities and colleges.

Licuanan said the cost of damage to public and private HEIs was estimated at P4.8 billion.

With the limited resources allocated for public HEIs, Licuanan called on private companies to get involved in the government’s rehabilitation efforts.

“We have presented to Secretary (Panfilo) Lacson the damage incurred by HEIs from Yolanda,” she said.

President Aquino recently appointed Lacson as rehabilitation czar for the Visayas.

CHED has ordered tertiary schools in Yolanda-hit areas to resume classes on Jan. 15.

There are 25,000 college students – 6,000 in public and 19,000 in private schools – in the affected regions, according to CHED.