GC releases statement over alleged P19-million overpayment
“The College wishes to clarify that funds received under the Free Higher Education Program are meticulously allocated and budgeted which undergoes strict audit by appropriate national government agencies. All collections approved were allocated transparently for the operations and development of the college,” Gordon College (GC) stated.
Following the publication of a Commission on Audit (COA) report cited by Bilyonaryo News Channel, GC released an official statement addressing the alleged P19-million overpayment under the Free Higher Education (FHE) Program.
The institution clarifies that all funds received were meticulously allocated and budgeted, emphasizing that all approved funds were used transparently for the institution’s operations and development.
According to the COA report, there are three (3) Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) with ineligibilities and excessive fees due to loss in control mechanism of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Central Office and Unified Students Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Billing Unit, amounting to more than P295-million.
The three institutions identified were the Tangub City Global College (TCGC), Pamantasan ng Cabuyao (PNC), and Gordon College (GC).
For GC, COA reported a total amount of P19,260,800 in questioned fees. The audit findings pointed to a mismatch between GC’s definition of a laboratory room and COA’s definition of an Audio-Visual Room (AVR).
Meanwhile, PNC listed an overpayment amounting to P55,818,690, which focuses on the leadership training, student partnerships, student publication and newsletters, and remedial programs under the Development category—being the highest recipient.
On the other hand, TCGC recorded the highest alleged overpayment at P220,706,895, with cultural fees accounting for the largest portion of the amount.
Furthermore, COA noted that this was not the first time CHED had been called out for overpayments under the FHE Program.
Audit observations from 2021 to 2022 already pointed to excess budgeting, while the 2024 report cited lapses in verification processes of the CHED Central Office and UniFAST Secretariat, resulting in the continued cycle of observations and disallowances since fiscal year 2022.
As part of its general recommendations, COA directed the three institutions to return the overpayments made by CHED, or to avail themselves of other appropriate modes of settlement of accounts in accordance with the existing laws and regulations.
In response, GC reiterated its commitment to accountability and transparency, emphasizing its willingness to cooperate with auditing authorities and comply with lawful processes. | via Mikhaela Sagun/The FOREFRONT
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