Sun.Star: Ex-CHED chief hits Palace over removal from office

Outgoing Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairman Carlito Puno has criticized Malacañang for a breach of protocol by making public his removal from office without informing him beforehand. Puno said he does not have any problem leaving his position but it would be better if he had been informed about it instead of learning about it through the media. He said there were some members of the Cabinet who, like him, felt bad as the announcement of replacements are considered "confidential" until all parties have been properly informed. "Protocol-wise, dapat sabihan nila ako (they should have told me), especially for a Cabinet-to-Cabinet position. Puwede namang pag-usapan iyan (that can be talked about) privately. If there will be a formal appointment of Secretary Neri, I will step down. No problem (but) I am trying to be very professional, observe protocol," he said. Malacañang announced last week the replacement of Puno by Socio-economic and Planning Secretary Romulo Neri to "troubleshoot" in the Ched due to a problem between the agency and the Technical Skills and Development Authority (Tesda) over ladderized education program (LEP). Presidential Management Staff (PMS) head Cerge Remonde said Puno will be transferred to United Coconut Chemicals Inc. Puno accused "several people" in Malacañang of trying to put their man in Ched for their own purposes, but refused to elaborate. "I'm still holding office at CHED there has been no official appointment," he said. He however said he understood the President's decision as it is her prerogative to change her appointees whenever she felt necessary. He added that no turnover had been scheduled yet as there had been no official announcement yet or even any signed appointment papers. Puno said his term as Ched chairman actually expired in July 2006 and he was on holdover capacity until a new appointee is named. He said for the time being, he was reappointed as acting chairman. He also said he had been offered to head a government corporation but he declined the post. Puno acknowledged the problem of mismatching of jobs and curriculum which he said they were trying to address for the last three years. He said this problem could not be resolved overnight, and he doubts if it would be solved in the six months that Neri would assume the post as caretaker of Ched. "Little by little you can solve this. Improve the situation like low quality of tertiary education. As early as three years, we allocated P1 billion for faculty development for English, Science, Math and Technology. Again you cannot sole this in six month's time," he said. He denied that he and Tesda head Augusto Syjuco are not in good terms due to disagreement over the implementation of the LEP. "Ched and Tesda are very much in coordination with each other when it comes in promoting LEP. The program could not be perfected overnight. We've already concrete gains to speak of," he said. Meanwhile, 111 school presidents who are members of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (Pasuc) expressed their support for Puno over Neri. "Being members of Pasuc, we want to be clarified over this confusion about the replacement of Chairman Carlito Puno. We just had our consultative meeting Thursday last week where Chairman Puno led us in the planning of several programs which concern public tertiary education. Then here comes some reports that he'll be replaced by Secretary Neri. The news is all over the newspapers. We were shocked about this development," said Dr. Lauro Tacbas, president of the University of Northern Philippines (UNP) and Pasuc president, during a press briefing. Dr. Ruperto Sangalang, president of Cavite State University and Pasuc vice president, said the association could not think of anything else that could have convinced the President to eject him from his post. Sangalang said Puno made Ched responsive to goals set by the Arroyo administration. Dr. Jose Macaballug, president of Rizal Technological University, said they will ask the President to retain Puno in his post. - Sun.Star