BAYBAY CITY, Leyte - VSU students swarm to the University Student Services Office (USSO) for the 5,000-peso aid the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is offering to students affected by supertyphoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) in 2013.
CHED's criteria for assistance states the student should be enrolled during the second semester of the school year 2016 - 2017, and must have not received prior financial assistance or scholarship program from any government agency. Students are also required to submit their Certificate of Registration, the duly accomplished application form from CHED, and a Barangay Certificateas proof that the said typhoon affected ones area.
USSO, however, still accepted the applications of some students, even without the last requirement. Most towns in Eastern Visayas were heavily damaged by the supertyphoon.
The deadline for the submission of documents was yesterday, June 28, 2017, but the USSO continued to accept papers today because students insisted.
“Kami sa kutob na mahimo, naningkamot mi na maka-comply, kay gipang-away naman mi diri. Mao na na sigi mig dawat, even without the declaration na gi-extend na,” said COE Guidance Counselor, Ms. Chona A. Brit.
(We're doing what we can to comply, because we've been receiving complaints. That's why we're still receiving [applications], even without the declaration that it's extended.)
She further explained that the USSO already pitched a list to CHED on June 28, Wednesday.
It will be up to Prof. Manolo B. Loreto, Jr., VSU Dean of Students, whether to still endorse those who applied after the deadline, Brit said. Prof. Loreto is in Manila attending the briefing on free tuition for SUCs, and will be back by Monday.
Priority?
However, some students complained that some of the courses were prioritized. The CHED ruled that some courses, like English and HRM, are not a priority for the assistance.
“Dapat wala silay pili-on na course, kay pag-abot baya sa Yolanda wala may gi-ingon na ‘Ay! AB English ni dili ni apil’," said one AB English student.
USSO still gave them forms and asked them to come back on Monday.