The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) commends the Board of Regents of Cagayan State University (CSU) for its timely passage of a Board Resolution appointing Dr. Mariden Cauilan as the duly designated representative of the CSU in signing a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) in order to receive the university’s reimbursement of tuition and miscellaneous fees under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE).
“Contrary to what some uniformed quarters have alleged, CHED has never sought to hold the Free Higher Education (FHE) reimbursement due to CSU for the school year 2020-2021,” said CHED and UniFAST Chairman Popoy De Vera.
“What has stopped the release of around P157 Million reimbursement for tuition and other school fees of CSU under the FHE program is the legal question regarding the re-appointment of Dr. Urduja Tejada as CSU President,” he added.
Tejada was reappointed to a 2nd term by the CSU Board of Regents in violation of CHED guidelines and policy.
The Office of the Solicitor General has filed a quo warranto case questioning the appointment of Dr. Tejada before Branch No. 1 of the Manila Regional Trial Court. In light of this pending case, the UniFAST Board requested the CSU Board to designate a person who can sign the UniFAST-CHED-CSU MoA and receive money on behalf of the university.
“When Dr. Cauilan signed the MoU, the funds were immediately downloaded to CSU to pay the salaries of its contractual and part time faculty/staff and implement its projects. Funds for the 1st semester of AY 2020-2021 were received by the bank on December 10, 2021 while funds for the 2nd semester of AY 2020-2021 will immediately be deposited” De Vera said.
