How can our universities be in the Top 100 when our educators are more interested in making money rather than in teaching?

A doctorate degree, while demonstrating advanced academic achievement, does not automatically guarantee ethical behavior or effective leadership in a CHEd position. While it provides a foundation of knowledge and research skills, it doesn’t necessarily equip an individual with the necessary managerial experience, integrity, and understanding of the broader educational landscape required for such a role.

For indeed, there was much to be desired in the quality of service the then chairperson and commissioners of CHEd rendered in supervising the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro City from 2006 to 2024.

The situation is the same at present. The president of a construction corporation had an appointment arranged for him to meet with the officer-in-charge of the Legal and Legislative Service of CHEd at 9 a.m. on 16 December 2025. But when the visitor arrived at CHEd at 9 a.m., not a single CHEd employee was at the commission. According to the security guard, all were in Ilocos Norte.

Senator Bam Aquino has hailed the approval of the P1.38-trillion education budget for 2026 as a major victory for Filipino youth. The budget, considered the highest in Philippine history for the sector, was approved by the bicameral conference committee and kept largely intact, with no major cuts to key programs.

The education budget includes P67 billion for the implementation of Republic Act No. 10931 or the Free College Law, which Aquino himself authored. It is supposed to ensure the continuing education of 5.7 million students in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges in 2026.

Also approved was Aquino’s recommendation to earmark P500 million in financial assistance to the Related Learning Experience (RLE) for students in allied health science programs.

Allied health sciences programs include nursing, medical technology, medical laboratory science, pharmacy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, radiologic technology, midwifery, nutrition, dietetics, speech-language pathology, human biology, pre-med allied programs, dentistry, biochemistry, and psychology.

Senator Aquino deserves the support of everyone.

Recent revelations calling the Commission on Higher Education, or CHEd, the center of corruption have displeased the President. The indiscretion disclosed before the world body the embarrassing reason why no Philippine university landed in the Top 100 of Times Higher Education’s (THE) 2024 Asia University Rankings.

How can our universities be in the Top 100 when our educators prefer to engage in making money rather than in teaching?

While there isn’t a major public secession movement from CHEd-Manila reported recently, there’s significant recent news about CHEd transferring maritime education functions to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and serious efforts of some education stakeholders like heads of universities advocating for autonomy and independence from CHEd-Manila because of the abuses of CHEd commissioners for which cases of grave misconduct, neglect of duty, and abuse of authority or oppression were filed.

It will take decades to erase the stain of corruption, to name only one of many, on Dr. Jo Mark Libre, the CHEd commissioner who was accused of nepotism and grave misconduct and ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman.

Email: arturobesana2@gmail.com