Wanted: new BSU president

LETTERS FROM THE AGNO

Soon as I got word on the non-reappointment of the present president of the Benguet State University last week, I knew that colleagues would scramble for the reasons “why”. But even while, the BSU board of regents were scheduled to meet with the CHED chair in Manila, there were already indications that he would no longer be retained as president. That was the reason, “why” was the easy question to answer that time. 

An evaluation team chaired by former UP President Dr. Emerlinda Roman conducted interviews around the campus, purposely to come up with a rating as basis on whether to re-appoint the president or not. The respondents were faculty members, students and community members.

The evaluation result was devastating so to speak because the president’s grade, according to Dr. Silver Aben who talked to Alumni BoR Marvin Chagyo, was a sad 3.82 which is equivalent to a “very satisfactory” rating.

In the excerpts of the special meeting at the Commission on Higher Education in Quezon City on November 10 that was emailed to this space, it was learned that the members of the evaluation committee were not unanimous in endorsing the president for a 2nd term basing on provisions of republic act 8292 which requires a rating of 5.0 which is equivalent to an outstanding performance.

With that, CHED Commissioner Dr. Patricia Licuanan was quick to say to the members of the BoR to start searching for the next president of bsu, and also told the president that his term ends on December 5, 2015.

In the same meeting, CHED chair Licuanan also told the president that the evaluation committee appreciated his performance, but to be extended, it requires an “outstanding performance” or a score of 5, based on RA 8292.

She was also quoted as saying “we cannot extend your appointment but you can continue as professor, exit as president and continuity of work will be done by one of your Vice Presidents as OIC president while the search for a new president is on-going”.

At that instant, the members of the BoR of BSU were also ready to vote against the president’s extension, but Dr. Licuanan was satisfied with the evaluation report so there was no need for the members of the BoR to vote.

If I were to be asked, my reasons for not giving the BSU president a good rating are based on the cases that were filed against. While these are still in court, I say that for a government employee to be indicted in a criminal case tells something about the personality of that person.

One case involving the BSU president is his violation of Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code where Comelec chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. ordered the commission’s law department to file criminal charges against the president.

In another instance, the performance based bonus or PBB, an extra cash bonus for government employees was not granted to BSU. Many disgruntled BSU employees said there was dismal failure on the part of the school’s management in steering the institution towards good governance.

In a letter to the BSU president last year, Budget secretary Butch Abad wrote; “we regret to inform you that BSU is disqualified for the grant of PBB for fiscal year 2013.”

To be eligible for the grant, the institution must meet all Good Governance conditions set by the inter-agency task force. BSU top executives who are in control of the conditions apparently failed. 

These are few of the reasons why I, as a bystander or observer would give the president a failing grade.

May I now ask those who supported the embattled BSU president during his first appointment in 2011 to please stand up to be recognized? I am certain they also benefited from his appointment.

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As early as before Christmas presents are delivered, politicians who filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) last October are now feeling the crunch – not that they do not have the resources to finish campaign rounds but because solicitation letters requesting financial assistance for any project are piled up thick on their tables.

           

Even La Trinidad Councilor Francis Lee who did not file a COC for any political position said that he is not spared.

           

There were suggestions from radical groups to have the election code amended as their seems to be a very wide gap of winning chances between the wealthier candidate and the poorer one who simply wants to serve the public by occupying an elective post.

           

One, Election Day on May 2016 is very far from the date of filing of COCs. This gives bigger chances of media exposure for candidates who have financial resources as compared to candidates who merely depend on moral supporters and volunteer campaigners.

           

The playing field is tilted in favor of the rich candidate.