News Briefs

Prof: Students failed subjects

THE professor of Southwestern University (SWU) accused of having a hand in preventing two nursing students from attending their graduation ceremonies maintained that both failed in some of their subjects.

In a court hearing, Juliet Salares showed the grades of Jervis Dreamond Leonardo, one of the two complainants.

She said in her computation, Leonardo got a 2.43 in his prelim, 2.81 in his midterm, 2.65 in his semi-finals, 3.13 in his finals and 3.5 in his pre-board review grade.

His final grade constituted 70 percent of his finals grade and 30 percent of his pre-board review grade. Salares said Leonardo got a failing grade of 3.24.

She said the university employs a cumulative grading system wherein a student’s grade for a certain term constitutes 2/3 of his current term grade and 1/3 of his previous term grade.

But Leonardo claimed that there are inconsistencies with the numbers. He said he doesn’t have the papers yet to prove his contention.

Leonardo said they were only shown a summary of their grades before graduation.

Salares said she always consults with the students regarding their grades. She said she even gave 25 points to the students for the prelim.

She also admitted that she gave an additional 50 points to students who bought nursing event tickets.

Pacita Isugan, chief administrative officer of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), said while the university has the right to set their standards in their curriculum, it should be approved by their office.

Any changes in standards should be relayed to the Ched three months before the opening of the school year and should not be retroactive. “In case of doubt, favor the students,” Isugan said. UP Mass Comm Intern Jose Santino S. Bunachita

Rama, council wrangle over Pagcor fund share

AS if the city’s annual budget isn’t enough, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and the City Council are wrangling over the allocation of the city’s share of funds from the Philippine Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

The council asked the mayor to furnish them a list of projects charged to the city’s Pagcor fund share, an arrangement Rama isn’t warming up to.

He said the council’s request only indicates the “lousy recording” done by their secretariat.

“They should not be asking me.  They should be listing (charges to Pagcor funds as these passes the city council). There are guidelines that help determine what can be charged…I don’t have to tell them that,” Rama said.

Earlier Councilor Alvin Arcilla said the projects being charged to Cebu City’s Pagcor share were higher than the P4.5 million monthly given to it.

In their April 25 session, the council charged P6 million to the city’s Pagcor share.

The amount covers the purchase of ambulances for barangays Basak Pardo and Pit-os worth P1 million each.

Arcilla said an ambulance worth P1.3 million for barangay Talamban where he comes from was approved by the council.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the city government may be giving “false hope” to barangays if they continue to charge projects to Pagcor funds. Any allocation requires Rama’s signature before passage to the council.

It’s also up to the mayor to determine which projects would be funded first.

“Before dipping one’s fingers on the Pagcor funds, one must be elected mayor first,” Rama said.

He said it’s still the mayor who decides when and where the Pagcor funds will go.

“Why will they change the rules? is it because I am the mayor now?,” Rama said.

Rama told reporters that he also has an option to ask for an increase in the city’s share of Pagcor funds. Pagcor gives a share of their revenues to LGUs where they operate their casino. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac