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The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) claims to have used 99 percent of the PHP3.3 billion in funds set aside under the Bayanihan 2 legislation.

Prospero de Vera, the chairman of CHED, made the remark on Wednesday in reaction to the Commission on Audit’s (COA) findings that the agency had spent just 40.61 percent of its Bayanihan 2 money.

The COA report on CHED’s low expenditure is “inaccurate” and “misleading,” according to De Vera, since it only covers the period through December 31, 2018, when the Bayanihan 2 funds were extended until June 30, 2021.

“It’s regrettable that the COA Report fails to mention that the Bayanihan 2 monies have been extended until June 30, 2021,” de Vera said, adding that the report “finds fault with government entities who are allowed to utilize the money for six (6) more months.”

De Vera pointed out that the COA report failed to mention that the Bayanihan 2 law was only passed on September 11, 2020, and that it is “impossible” for CHED to approve project proposals, request funds from the Department of Budget and Management, and release funds to state universities and colleges (SUCs) within three months.

“CHED’s activities are in line with the criteria for cautious budget release, timely budget implementation, and rigorous accountability in the use of public money,” he added.

The Bayanihan 2 budget included PHP300 million in education subsidies for qualified students via the Bayanihan 2 for Higher Education Tulong Program (B2HELP) and PHP3 billion in grants to state universities and colleges (SUCs) for Smart Campus Development initiatives.

On Nov. 17, 2020, CHED sought the DBM’s Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) and Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) for PHP300 million, according to De Vera.

The B2HELP monies were made available on December 1, 2020, and were to be used by December 31, 2020.

According to de Vera, the agency has distributed PHP297,540,319 of the B2HELP funding to 60,782 students as of June 30, 2021.

He said that the agency has a 99 percent usage rate for the aforementioned allotment.

As of June 30, 2021, CHED has committed PHP2,998,844,375 to Smart Campus Development projects and had disbursed PHP2,958,430,405, resulting in a 99 percent usage rate.

The Smart Campus Development Program covers the purchase of laptop computers for SUC professors as well as grant funding for SUC projects.

According to De Vera, PHP1.04 billion was set aside for the first component and PHP1.96 billion for the second.

SUCs can receive up to PHP25 million for project proposals aimed at improving the implementation of flexible learning, such as upgrading internet connectivity, campus area networks, learning management systems, learner information systems, smart classrooms, student computer centers, or faculty multi-media centers.

From December 2020 to June 2021, CHED received 238 applications from 111 SUCs and through a rigorous vetting procedure by a team of specialists, according to De Vera.

Only 89 SUCs with project ideas were determined to be eligible for financing from the Bayanihan 2 fund, out of a total of 111.

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