The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced on Monday that an investigation is underway against a private college in Quezon City for allegedly conducting an unauthorized off-campus activity without the necessary permits and compelling students to participate.
Reports indicate that on Sunday, 26 January, Bestlink College organized a field trip to Bataan as part of its founding anniversary celebration at a private resort. However, the event was marred by significant issues, with many students stranded for hours and some forced to walk home late from Bataan.
CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III said he has directed CHED NCR Director Jimmy Catanes to investigate the incident, emphasizing that a show cause order will be issued against the school.
"The CHED Commission en banc has discussed the matter and a show cause order will be issued against Bestlink College for conducting off campus activity without submitting the required documents with CHEDRO NCR," De Vera said in a Viber message.
On social media, students accused the school of requiring them to pay for the event while failing to provide adequate transportation and safety measures.
"Yesterday's Bestlink College of the Philippines Foundatin Day in Bataan was a complete disaster. Forced participation, fully paid fees, and expectations of a fun, organized event turned into absolute chaos. There were no accommodations, no proper guidance, and students were left under the sun without preparation. Many students even fainted due to exhaustion and lack of care from the organizers. This didn't just affect us, it also caused heavy traffic and inconvenience to others on the road," one student shared in a social media post.
"As the event ended, buses were disorganized, and students were scrambling to find rides. Many were left stranded, walking for hours just to get home," the student added.