By: Rhearose Q. Conde and Julie Ann A. Casbadillo
Catbalogan City – Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner J. Prospero “Popoy” E. De Vera III visited Samar State University (SSU) and brought good news for the students while listening to concerns of the SSU community during his Campus Visit and Listening Tour today, October 19.
Calling it a “listening tour,” Hon. De Vera visited SSU as a promise he made during his first board meeting with 24 state universities and colleges before.
With his aim of ensuring that decisions of the Board of Regents will be based on the institutions’ needs by visiting the “biggest to the smallest” campuses in the country, Hon. De Vera first visited SSU Paranas then SSU Main Campus (SSU-MC) before concluding his trip at SSU Mercedes for the Academic Forum at 1 PM.
“Sinabi ko iyon dahil sa aking palagay, iyon talagang dapat gawin ng bagong hirang na Chair of Board of Regents dahil alam n’yo ho, pagkanagde-decide ka sa board meeting, mahirap mag-desisyon nang hindi mo nakikita ‘yong actual na kondisyon sa baba (I said that because I believe that the newly appointed Chair of Board of Regents should do that because it is difficult to decide if you do not know the actual condition of those from below),” he said in his speech during the forum.
He also brought good news for the students:
- Free tuition fee and standard miscellaneous fee starting June 2018 in 112 state universities and colleges.
- Free tuition fee and standard miscellaneous fee for all students of the LGU-run universities and colleges that passed CHED evaluation.
- Free TESDA courses.
- Additional subsidy from the government for everyday expenses of students belonging to the three lowest income brackets.
- The national student loan program will be implemented for students and their families to avail at a low interest for other expenses.
“Para sa mga estudyante, libre lang din naman ang pag-aaral n’yo, aba’y dapat pag-igihin naman (For the students, since your education is free, you should do well),” the CHED Commissioner added after relaying the good news.
During the forum proper, Hon. De Vera addressed questions on vertical articulation, delayed CHED Tulong-Dunong assistance, Typhoon Yolanda assistance, re-allocation of money to other campuses, hiring of non-teaching staff, CMO for the Industrial Technology program, and enrollment of students in programs not aligned to their target fields.
Since he still need more details for proper action, he assured everyone that he would have them dealt with and he gave his e-mail address, even encouraging the audience to send him an e-mail for other concerns.
Aside from the open forum, Hon. De Vera also discussed the University’s facilities, equipment, landscapes, management and students with the University President Dr. Marilyn D. Cardoso, college deans, student regent, LGU representatives and other stakeholders during his campus and departmental visitations in the morning, and luncheon at Tia Anita’s.
With reporting from Ma. Jean Ivy C. Pacoma.