Duterte urged to name new CHEd chair

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. KIWI BULACLAC/Presidential Photo

Several officials of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) are calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to designate a new chair or an officer in charge (OIC) of his choice who can serve as his alter ego and represent the agency in the Cabinet.

“We affirm that the CHEd is an important agency of the government in charge of the higher education sector and crucial in the development of human resource needed by the country for greater development, and thus, should be continuously represented in the Cabinet by a head who enjoys the trust and confidence of the President…” read the manifesto from CHEd officials.

READ: CHEd says it can function effectively even without part in Cabinet

CHEd Executive Director Julito Vitriolo led the officials in signing the document. Among the signatories were Directors Lily Freida Macabangun-Milla, Romulo Malvar and Legal and Legislative Service chief Septon dela Cruz.

In the manifesto, the officials underscored the need to appoint a new chair who enjoys the trust of Duterte “so that CHEd will again be in the mainstream as are the other education agencies.”

They also asked the President to appoint three more commissioners who will support the designated OIC or the new chair in crafting and implementing the administration’s program development for the higher education.

In a phone interview with the Inquirer, Vitriolo said CHEd Chair Patricia Licuanan should follow the lead of Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo, who tendered her resignation as chair of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council, after the President barred her from attending Cabinet meetings.

READ: CHED chair to comply with Duterte order

Vitriolo said the commission will be “in limbo” if Licuanan insisted on holding on to her post. “How will we know if the programs that we are doing are what the President wants. Where will the instructions come from?” asked Vitriolo. RAM/rga