19 top CHEd execs overstaying
By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 08:29pm (Mla time) 01/04/2008
MANILA, Philippines — At least 19 top officials of the Commission on Higher Education have apparently overstayed their posts–from three to 12 years–in violation of CHEd regulations.

CHEd documents obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer named the overstaying executives as Deputy Executive Director Julito Vitriolo (12 years) and Directors Carmen Dormitorio (11 years); Amelita Biglete, Jean Tayag and Dominador Peralta Jr. (7 years); Evelyn Mojica and Carmelita Yadao-Sison (6 years); Evelyn Pascua (5 years); Regina Fortes, Eloisa Paderanga, Virginia Resurrection, Felizardo Francisco, Isabel Inlayo and Enrique Grecia (4 years), and Ma. Rita Ortiz, Emmylou Yanga, Isabela Mahler (3 years).

Joseph de los Santos, who has been director of Region IV-B (Mindoro provinces, Marinduque and Palawan) since 1999, is on indefinite leave.

Director Romeo Isaac, meanwhile, has been assigned to the office of Presidential Assistant for Education Mona Valisno since 2002.

At least eight of the overstaying executives were named directors during the term of former President Joseph Estrada while eight others were appointees of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Vitriolo, an appointee of former President Fidel Ramos, has been occupying his post since February 1995.

Under CHEd Resolution No. 430, issued in 2003, commission directors are required to “undergo reassignment or new posting every three years.”

The policy, which covers directors assigned in both the Central and regional offices of the commission, aims to “expose all directors to a new environment, unearth their potentials and provide equal opportunities to new perspectives and directions.”

CHEd cited the 2003 resolution when it issued last year Special Order No. 51 which prescribed the guidelines for the reassignment and posting of commission directors.

CHEd Chair Romulo Neri, tasked by Arroyo to “troubleshoot” the body from August last year to next February, has ordered a “study” of the issue.

A “reshuffle” of the subject CHEd officials is being considered by the body, according to Commissioner Nona Ricafort.

This “will be taken up in next Monday’s commission en banc meeting,” said Ricafort.

CHEd Special Order 51 also aims to “increase the productivity of CHEd offices, its management and operations and usher in new perspectives and directions for the said offices,” as well as to “prevent familiarity with clients and other stakeholders that may lead to complacency that is inimical to the service.”

The same directive said “directors with proven track record, outstanding performance and high acceptability shall be given first priority in handling relatively bigger regions in terms of number of higher education institutions and importance.”

“No directors shall be returned to posts where they have been previously assigned and subsequently transferred due to legal or administrative causes,” it also said.

In a related development, the militant Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) urged the CHEd to follow its own set of rules.

“Those overstaying officials should vacate their posts. New people should be appointed to take their place,” said ACT Chair Antonio Tinio.

For his part, League of Filipino Students national chair Vencer Crisostomo said they were “seriously considering filing administrative charges against CHEd officials if these matters are not addressed.”

“We urge CHEd to draw up a New Year’s resolutions list which should include cleaning up its ranks of corrupt officials and taking sincere efforts to address student concerns,” said Crisostomo.

On Friday, Tinio added “those involved in questionable CHEd transactions such as the P500-million call center development project must be called to account for their alleged misdeeds.”

He was apparently referring to Vitriolo, among other CHEd officials linked to the controversial project, also known as the Integrated Multi-Site Business Process Outsourcing-Incubation Contact Centers or IMSBPO-ICC.

Vitriolo, head of the CHEd bids and awards committee which approved the project, had repeatedly said the initiative was above board.

CHEd documents earlier furnished the Inquirer pointed to probable overpricing and other serious irregularities surrounding the project, supposedly intended to set up call center training centers in selected state universities and colleges nationwide.

The alleged anomalies also included the advance payment of more than P75 million in project funds to the private firm e-Services Global Solutions on orders of former CHEd chair Car-lito Puno.

Puno, now head of the government-owned and controlled Coconut Chemicals Inc., has been mum about the allegations.

Neri has referred the matter to the Commission on Audit which is currently conducting a special technical audit of the IMSBPO-ICC.

4th January 2008 | Filed under: In The News, Top Post | Click here to follow any responses to this entry: RSS 2.0 feed