CHE releases tertiary education subsidy 

On December 15, 2022, the new leadership of the City of Malabon University, headed by Dr. Glen DV. Si De Leon, CMU OIC President, visited the Commission on Higher Education – National Capital Region Office to discuss various issues and concerns of the university regarding compliance with different agency standards and policies.

One of the primary concerns of the CHED officials was the failure of the previous administration to comply with the requirements for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)-Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), which affected the processing and release of financial assistance to 78 CMU grantees covering AY 2018-2019, AY 2019-2020, and AY 2020-2021.

As an immediate action, Mayor Jeannie Sandoval, Chairperson of the Board of Regents, directed the university officials to expedite the completion and submission of the necessary documents to hasten the processing of the subsidy. The required documents were promptly prepared and submitted by the concerned officials, and they assisted the grantees in processing their papers for submission to CHED.

Advertisement

When CMU's leadership submitted the necessary documents, the subsidy was promptly processed by CHED-NCR and given to CMU on February 2, 2023. The university conducted verification and validation of the grantees before preparing the payroll to ensure compliance with government regulations on fund disbursement.

Once the payroll processing is complete, the schedule for the distribution of financial assistance will be communicated to the 78 TES-TDP grantees. Although the TES-TDP will be a significant help to the 78 beneficiaries, it will not entirely address their financial needs in continuing their education.

CMU firmly believes that every student deserves equal access to quality education, regardless of their financial capabilities. While we appreciate the efforts of the Tulong Dunong Program in providing assistance to our 78 beneficiaries, we firmly believe that accreditation by the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) remains our top priority.

Through UniFAST accreditation, all CMU students will have access to free tuition, providing them with equal opportunities to achieve their dreams and fulfill their potential. We believe that this is an essential step towards building a more inclusive and equitable society.

Currently, we are eagerly awaiting the issuance of the Certificate of Program Compliance from CHED for three of the 16 programs offered by CMU. These certificates will allow us to apply for Institutional Recognition. The search for the University President has been launched, and soon, the new and qualified CMU President will be installed in accordance with CHED's rules and regulations.

Once institutional recognition is granted, CMU will again be eligible for the UniFAST subsidy. The CMU administration will continue to collaborate with various regulatory bodies to ensure that all issues and concerns of the institution are promptly and adequately addressed, particularly in completing the requirements for Institutional Recognition and UniFAST subsidy applications.