DSWD asked: Assist scholarship grantees
Even if CHEd wants to allow double scholarships because there are some students who really need extra financial help, our hands are tied because of the CoA policy.
Daily TribuneEven if CHEd wants to allow double scholarships because there are some students who really need extra financial help, our hands are tied because of the CoA policy.
House Deputy Majority Leader and Iloilo Representative Janette Garin urged the ato provide assistance to the 338 students who were told to return to the Commission on Higher Education disallowed funds totaling P4.4 million.
The Commission on Audit previously disallowed the fund release, claiming it represents "excessive scholarship grants."
The "Notice of Disallowances" was issued to CHEd after it was discovered that the grantees were able to collect two types of financial assistance, implying they were paid twice, which is contrary to CHEd's policy of not duplicating financial benefits. Students who received double or excessive grants were required to repay the amount equal to the overpayment.
"We are humbly asking Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo, they have programs such as Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation that can be withdrawn so that our students can pay CHEd. This is to free them from debt, and they no longer have to remember that they have a debt that must be paid. This is a large amount that the students or their parents may even have to borrow," Garin said.
CHEd chairperson Prospero de Vera confirmed that notices of payment were sent to students, primarily from Cagayan Valley and the Bicol Region, with each student being asked to return the "excess amount of scholarship grant" totaling more or less P15,000.
Garin asked for patience, saying that while some students may require a larger amount of scholarship, CHEd's hands are tied in terms of providing more assistance to the students.
"Even if CHEd wants to allow double scholarships because there are some students who really need extra financial help, our hands are tied because of the CoA policy that only one program can avail of the scholarship. If you have already availed of a scholarship under the CHEd Scholarship Program, you cannot become a scholar of the Department of Science and Technology or other government scholarship programs," she explained.
Garin believes it is prudent to give the grantees the benefit of the doubt, because she believes those who benefited from the duplication may not have been aware of the grant's limitation. Thus, demanding them to return the disallowed funds will undoubtedly
