The Commission on Audit (COA) has asked the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to tighten the implementation of its scholarship program after state auditors found serious deficiencies in its distribution of funds to students.
COA said CHED released P169.7 million to 33,940 student scholars with doubtful qualifications and also cited a very low loan repayment for the Study Now, Pay Later Program (SNLP).
“Claims of 33,940 scholars/grantees totalling P169.729 million were processed and paid without adequate supporting documentations,” the audit report said.
COA also chided CHED for the “inadequate monitoring/evaluation and recording” of the implementation of the Higher Education Institute –Based Loan Programs that received a total allocation over P1 billion in 2013.
Of the amount, some P499.3 million were classified as unaccounted allocation, the 2013 annual audit report for CHED disclosed.
State auditors recommended legal action against beneficiaries of the Study Now Pay Later Plan which has registered dismal repayment of 2.63 percent in 2013.
“Enforce the legal remedy for the non-payment of the due and demandable SNPLP loans,” COA told CHED.
Audit examiners also exert efforts in improving its collection, one of which is to issue demand letters to the borrowers.
In its value for money audit, COA noted various deficiencies in the implementation of the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) which received funding from the Priority Development Assistance Program of lawmakers, among others.
Manila Bulletin
