Iligan solon asks CHEd to probe delay in release of K-to-12 allowances

Iligan City lone district Rep. Frederick Siao is urging the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to investigate the alleged delay in the release of living allowances and monthly grants to some 24 beneficiaries of the agency’s K-to-12 Transition Program for higher education faculty.

This, after complaints reached Siao’s attention.

“I am calling the attention of and demand immediate resolution by the (CHEd) of two separate complaints lodged by 10 graduate students at UP (University of the Philippines) Diliman and 14 at De La Salle University,” the lawmaker said in a statement.

“They have been waiting for months for those allowances and grants but despite their persistent inquiries and follow-up with the CHEd, their efforts have not borne fruit,” Siao noted.

One complaint was sent to the Presidential Complaint Center, while another letter was sent to the Chancellor of the Mindanao State University (MSU) – Iligan Institute of Technology.

“Our living allowance for the Midyear Term (June-July) of 2017 has not been released yet even if it has been four months overdue. We do not see that our living allowance for the First Semester this school year would be released anytime sooner,” read the letter addressed to Chancellor Sukarno Tanggol, which Siao shared to House of Representatives reporters.

“To be fair to the CHEd, I am also sending them this Statement to give them the opportunity to directly address the complaints at the level of the Commission, particularly Chairperson Patricia Licuanan,” Siao further stated.

He mentioned these two deliverables from the Commission in particular.

“First, the CHEd must immediately release the delayed allowances and grants, not just for the 24 whose complaints have been brought to my attention, but also for others similarly situated who have been beneficiaries of the CHEd K-to-12 Transition Program.

“Second, the CHEd must investigate how the delays happened and identify who must be held administratively liable and file the administrative charges at the soonest possible time,” Siao said, adding that he expects CHEd to give the matter “priority attention.”