SINOPLA ni Senador Risa Hontiveros ang katuwiran ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) hinggil sa maanomalyang paggamit ng bilyong pondo sa UNIFast na natugunan na taliwas sa paratang ng Commission on Audit (COA).

Sa pahayag, sinabi ni Hontiveros na malayo pa, at hindi pa nareresolba ang CHED-UniFAST issue dahil mas dumami ang reklamong natanggap ng kanyang opisina kaysa pabor sa isyu.

“Contrary to the statement released by CHED saying that the COA report has been addressed, it is clear that the CHED-UniFAST issue is far from resolved,” giit ni Hontiveros.

“To claim so totally dismisses and gaslights the students who have been following up for years to receive what is due to them, as they now struggle to re-enroll in school,” dagdag ni Hontiveros.

Sinabi ni Hontiveros na walang katotohanan ang katuwiran ng CHED na matagal nang nagresolbahan ang isyu at saka sinisisi nito ang paaralan na pinagbigyan ng pondo.

“May mga scholar na ga-graduate na pero ni isang sentimo ay walang natatanggap hanggang ngayon. The fact remains that CHED-UniFAST released billions of pesos entrusted to them, unmonitored, without checking or seeing the process through,” aniya.

“Hindi pwedeng maghugas ng kamay ang CHED-UniFAST at ibaling sa mga paaralan ang sisi,” paliwanag pa ni Hontiveros.

Sinabi ni Hontiveros na umabot sa mahigit 300 reklamo ang natanggap ng kanyang tanggapan sa loob ng apat na araw nang simula nitong batikusin ang isyu, mula sa estudyante at mismong paaralan na sinasabing naresulbahan ang pagbibigay ng pondo.

“CHED need only look at its comments section to see the gravity of the complaints. I am glad that my PSR No. 128 has been referred to the Blue Ribbon Committee because we need to hear how and why for over four years they allowed their agency to proceed in this manner, so that we can come up with constructive solutions moving forward,” ayon kay Hontiveros.

“Hindi ito pwedeng balewalain lang dahil maraming estudyanteng indigent ang nahihirapan dahil dito. These are undeniably serious, even unjust delays,” ayon sa mambabatas.

Ipinaliwanag pa ni Hontiveros na maraming iskolar ang hindi makapag-apply ng iba pang scholarship dahil nakalista sila bilang UniFAST scholars kahit wala silang natatanggap simula nang lumagda sa kontrata.

“These UniFAST lapses, ironically, are literally standing in the way of students’ right to education,” ani Hontiveros.

“CHED remains accountable for the whole process. As long as the students have not received what is due to them, CHED cannot say they have done their job. I look forward to the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on this where we will hold those responsible to full account,” dagdag ng opposition na mambabatas. (ESTONG REYES)