Alaminos university gets CHEd OK

DAGUPAN CITY—The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has allowed the Alaminos City campus of the Pangasinan State University (PSU) to offer six programs, including the three college courses that were questioned by the owner of a rival school.

CHEd Executive Director Julito Vitriolo, in a June 17 memorandum to the CHEd Ilocos region officer in charge, said the new Alaminos campus may offer Bachelor of Science degree programs in elementary education, in secondary education and in agriculture.

“Based on [the] documentary compliance submitted to this office, PSU may offer the programs… having met [the] requirements on the level of accreditation (level II by the Association of Chartered Colleges and Universities of the Philippines) and [after] being identified as a Center for Development,” Vitriolo said.

The CHEd directive also allowed PSU to offer Bachelor of Science degree programs in business administration, information technology and hospitality management “as mandated by the charter” of the university.

The PSU has nine campuses since it was chartered in 1981.

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza said the CHEd decision was a “welcome development” for 1,200 students, most of whom cannot afford expensive college education. The city government, which helped develop the campus, provides subsidies for most of the students.

“I have always believed that education is a right and not a privilege. CHEd’s confirmation of the [legitimacy of the] PSU Alaminos campus now empowers the city government to fulfill its mandate to provide quality, affordable and relevant education to all Alaminians especially the poor,” Braganza said.

Ruben Morante, president of the Pangasinan Accountancy and Sciences School (PASS), had complained to the Pangasinan provincial board in May that Braganza and PSU president Victorino Estira began operating the Alaminos campus without complying with mandatory licensing and accreditation requirements.

The board, however, dismissed Morante’s suit in July, claiming it has no jurisdiction over component cities such as Alaminos.

Board Member Alfonso Bince advised Morante to file the case at the Office of the President. Morante said he was no longer interested.