TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan – Gov. Manuel Mamba has criticized the diploma mill tag on universities in this province and called the accusation unfair.
Universities on the province were allegedly selling degrees to foreign students for as high as P2 million.
Mamba said academic institutions in Cagayan have been focusing on the development of education and have become top universities in the country.
He said that these institutions have brought honors and their students have been topnotchers in various courses.
"We're so proud of our institutions here especially our schools. Our investment, our children's education. It has always been the dream of every Cagayan that their children can study no matter how hard it is, that is why education flourished here in Cagayan."
He feared the possible consequences of this baseless accusation.
Mamba said this could lead to China forcibly removing Filipinos from Macau and Hong Kong where many of them work.
“Malaki ang epekto nito, katulad niyan, kung gagawa-gawa ng mga kaso na hindi naman totoo. Sinasabi nilang may diploma mill dito, that is so unfair. Kung magpaalis kayo ng mga Chinese dito na walang basehan baka mamaya paalisin ‘yung mga nasa Hong Kong at Macau na Pilipino. Baka mamaya ihinto ‘yung palitan. I think they are the No. 1 trade market na ngayon. So, all of these things will affect us. Kaya dahan-dahan naman tayo.”
(This accusation has a big effect, especially if this is untrue. The diploma mill accusation is unfair. We should not allow the Chinese leave without basis. They might forcibly remove Filipinos from Macau and Hong Kong. The exchange rate might be stopped. I think China is the No. 1 trade market today. So, all of these things will affect us. We should be careful)