Monday, July 18, 2011

MPSPC prexy probe on; classes suspended

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Classes here remain suspended while investigation on a number of complaints from students, faculty and the alumni against state college president Dr Nieves Dacyon was conducted by the Commission on Higher Education here July 13 and 14.

The probe led by CHED director Freddie Bernal interviewed students, faculty, alumni, finance and accounting staff of Mountain Province State Polytechnique College including persons from the community.

Faculty head Daniela Chumacog said the investigation team's findings shall be forwarded to the MPSPC board of trustees for their decision.

No deadline was given on the date of the decision.

The probe team focused questions among issues including alleged mismanagement of funds and school protocols, politically motivated acts on the student-faculty rally, and non- participation during previous Lang-ay festival celebrations.

Among those interviewed include student leader Blaine Bilalat, MPSPC finance officer Leticia Napat-a, Human Resources and Management dean Zenaida Soliven, faculty head Daniela Chumacog and instructor Dan Sokoken, alumni Rosa Kaiser and George Lumiwes, and community representatives Caridad Fiar-od and Mila Fanaang.

“While investigation goes on, classes shall be suspended until MPSPC president Nieves Dacyon steps down,” said student head of the grievance committee Blaine Bilalat, student governor Genesis Kiaki of the teachers education department, president of the students’ governors league Aaron Fagyan, and faculty head Daniela Chumacog.

Dacyon resigned on July 1, amidst an angry and violent rally of students and staff calling for the resignation of the school head.

Dacyon’s resignation however was not accepted by the school’s BOT due to the resignation having been done “under duress.”

The non-acceptance of Dacyon’s resignation by the BOT drew another round of rally from students, faculty and the community on July 9 which was going on at press time.

While this developed, the League of Progressive Students-Mt Province Youth Association called for the resumption of classes while investigation is going on.

Geofrey Diawan of MPYA said the students will be at a loss with the non-holding of classes.
Along with Marceline Pilala, president of the League of Progressive Students-MP chapter, Diawan called for the investigation of alleged irregularities committed by Dacyon, urging transparency of how collected student fees were spent .

“Our claims with the other student leaders of the College are one, an accounting of where the money of students have gone, ” said Diawan and Pilala representing progressive and militant organizations.

LPS along with other student leaders Bilalat, Kiaki, and Fagyan called for transparency where the money has gone covering collected fees namely that of student services fee now student development fee, library, laboratory, and the Regional Annual Administrative tactical Inspection fee (RAATI Fee).

Bilalat said six years of non-addressed claims for books, laboratory equipment including computers, and the installation of the Online Public Access Catalogue went unheeded despite calls for consultation and dialogue in separate dates in 2008 to 2010 with Dacyon’s absence.
Dacyon said consultations were done, as noted in a news story in another paper.

Aaron Fagyan, president of the student Governor’s League said one of the references clamored by students is an updated financial management book not available in the library, and used as a reference by the instructor.

Student leaders asked where the collected P500 development fee then called student services fee amounting to P5 million went.

“Our request for a student center, a student camera, and some trainings were not approve d by the President while other staff requests were quickly approved”, Bilalat said.

Bilalat referred to 8 student-based activities conducted in 2008-2009 out of 32 project- activities costing some P258 thousand.

Bilalat questioned where the rest of the P620 thousand out of the P 878 thousand student development fees collected in school year 2008-2009 went along with the rest of the collected services/development fees from school years 2009-2010.

Student development fees are accessed as per proposals sent for endorsement and approval to the offices of the students affairs, executive dean, the vice president on academic affairs, until it reaches the president.

The president however shall have the final say whether the request is granted or not.

Student leaders claimed there are no clear guidelines on the use of the development fee.
The student leaders called for an audit of the student fees collected.

This, while LPS-MPYA with the Kabataan party list sees the rising of student fees an indication of the budget cut imposed by the State.

The MPSPC suffered a budget cut of 15% with no money allotted for equipment, repairs, construction and improvement of facilities.

Kabataan party list officer Cielo Bayson said, ‘ what MPSPC is suffering is the localized effect of a national budget cut on 112 state universities and colleges’ with some SUCs having their budget down by 24%.

Student development fees started collection in 2007 as per a BOT resolution.
Library jumped from P75 to P300 in school year 2008 onwards.

Tuition jumped from P60 to P75 per unit starting this school year 2011 for incoming freshmen.

The LPS while it called for an internal audit to know where the school funds went and an impartial investigation on allegations of issues, also called for a protest against the looming budget cut and demand the Philippine government for a higher state subsidy.

The school faculty on the other hand, called for a participative governance of MPSPC and replace “despotic” Nieves Dacyon.

A major complaint was Dacyon’s alleged abuse as college president by demanding resignation of all deans and directors despite un-expired terms as provided for in the College Code.

The faculty club in their manifesto identified other complaints including the designation of Dacyon's brother as human resource development coordinator in Tadian campus; shouting and insults hurled on the late administrative officer Jocelyn Aguana when she questioned payment of allegedly irregular purchase of a furniture set.

The list of grievances included the detailing of 19 administrative staff to the Baang campus 29 kilometers from the main campus in Bontoc with no equipment and water supply and other graft -related complaints which reached the Ombudsman.

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