CHED Clarifies So-Called “Unspent” Funds for Poor Students

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) seeks to clarify news reports on the Commission on Audit (COA) findings regarding the so-called “unspent P1.2-B fund for poor students.” COA’s latest report which was posted on their website early this week contains the annual audit report executive summary and outlined observations and recommendations on CHED accounts and operations in 2014. The report also enumerated CHED’s courses of action based on the agreements in the Commission’s exit conference with COA in July 2015.

At the time of the exit conference, documentation for the obligation of funds from the CHED regional offices still needed updating, but to date, these reports have already been completed. In fact, by December 31, 2015, the remaining P1.2-B 2014 budget which had a validity of two years, had been fully obligated with an assurance that the beneficiaries will be paid.

It can be recalled that at the end of 2013, the Supreme Court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) unconstitutional. In response, lawmakers realigned their PDAF allocations to the calamity fund and six agencies, including CHED for scholarship assistance to students.

As a consequence, CHED’s Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) composed of scholarships, grants-in-aid and loans totaling 58,155 slots in the amount of P997-M in AY 2013-2014, ballooned nearly seven times to 391,817 slots in AY 2014-2015 amounting to P4.87-B, testing the carrying capacity of the agency.

New Year, New Shows on Discovery Channel, Discovery Science and Discovery Kids

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This year, make it your resolution to learn and go on adventures more, even just through the screen. Discovery Channel, Discovery Science and Discovery Kids will make it easy to stick to your commitment with a line-up of interesting programs for all age groups!


Discovery Channel

Adventures abound as the abalone dive crews of Port Lincoln confront greater challenges this season. Spotting sharks proves a little trickier as an early winter brings vicious swells that cause poor water visibility. Adding to that, a pod of orca whales attack and kill a shark at Neptune Islands, forcing the Great Whites to flee the area. The big sharks now roam the waters off Port Lincoln: where they’ll appear next, no one knows. Despite the deadly challenges, the dive crews continue to enter the water, continuing to risk their lives in search of the lucrative green-lipped abalone. The new season of Abalone Wars premieres January 25, airing Mondays at 9PM.

The image above show Bear Grylls with: (clockwise) Ferguson, Hudson, Rodriguez and Winslet 

Airing also this January is the new season of Running Wild With Bear Grylls. Bear Grylls is accompanied by all kinds of celebrities and sent off to the wild. Each of the actors and athletes will partner with Grylls for two days for a one-on-one adventure, tackling everything from skydiving to repelling as they journey through some of the world’s most unforgiving wildernesses. This season will take viewers from the jungles of Panama to the far reaches of the Italian Alps and then to the Colorado Rocky Mountains and the Red Rocks of Utah. The series guests include Drew Brees, James Marsden, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kate Hudson, Kate Winslet, Michael B. Jordan, Michelle Rodriguez and Ed Helms.

A one-episode special of the show aired on December featured US President Barrack Obama joining Bear Grylls in the wild.

The new season of Running Wild With Bear Grylls, which premiered on January 5, airs Tuesdays, 9PM. 

Lyceum of the Philippines University Powers Education with Microsoft

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Lyceum of the Philippines University has partnered with Microsoft Philippines to upgrade its educational system for more than 1000 faculty members and staff throughout its 5 LPU campuses.

The partnership was formed to equip school personnel in order to provide students the quality education and services that the institution has been known for since being established in 1952.

“Microsoft creates solutions to help inspire teachers and students realize their full potential,” says Karrie Ilagan, Microsoft Philippines General Manager. “We believe that empowered students will have an enriched mind to prepare him for today’s challenges, and an empowered teacher will help mold students for a lifetime.”

Members of the LPU community have attested to how their partnership with Microsoft has helped them become more advanced and efficient.

“The new solutions brought new improvements on the delivery of our services,” said Devy M. Galang, Information and Communication Technology Director of Lyceum of the Philippines University - Manila Campus. “Our stakeholders became more productive. They are now equipped with the 21st century information skills and knowledge.”

“Communication and collaboration make it easier for the teachers and students to work with each other in real-time from virtually anywhere,” Galang added.