Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Friday, March 1 urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to regulate their commissioners’ expenses during their visits to state colleges and universities (SUCs) and out-of-town meetings.
Escudero made the call amid criticisms hurled at CHED commissioners regarding their habit of incurring high cost of expenses during their frequent meetings and charging these to the account of SUCs.
“One of the complaints against a commissioner was that he was conducting more than the regular meetings at the expense of the SUCs. And number two, that he was being accompanied by not only members of his family but also more than enough staff that the commissioner actually needs, again, at the expense of the SUC,” the senator said.
Escudero is referring to former CHED commissioner Joe Mark Libre, who has been dismissed recently by the Office of the Ombudsman due to nepotism.
The Senate Committee on Higher and Technical Education chief said he believes it is time that CHED issue a memorandum regulating what would be charged against SUCs in cases of meetings held on-site, what will be charged against CHED, and what would be charged against the personal account of the CHED official.
Escudero also called for a thorough scrutiny of the per diems requested by attendees of the commissioner meetings.
There should no longer be a need to request per diem if the meetings are held within Metro Manila, the lawmaker insisted.
“If the hearing or meeting is going to be conducted within CHED premises, or within Metro Manila, utang na loob, wala na dapat per diem ang commissioner (for god’s sake, commissioners should no longer ask for an allowance),” he pointed out.
“Some SUCs give that is why when I appointed my representatives to the various SUCs, I told them that they are not allowed or authorized to receive anything. That’s a strict order,” Escudero said.