Solon blames 'too much noise' for CGFNS denial of plea vs retake

“We have no one to blame but ourselves for making too much noise about the exam controversy." That was how Bacolod City Rep. Monico Puentevella reacted to the rejection of the appeal for reconsideration by the Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS) International of its February 14 decision to deny VisaScreen Certificattion to Filipino nurses who passed the leakage-tainted June 2006 licensure exam. Puentevella lead a five-man task force that left Manila on Sunday morning for a meeting with CGFNS officials on Monday at the CGFNS headquarters in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. The team failed to convince CGFNS that a retake won’t be necessary to be eligible for VisaScreen certification, a US immigration requirement to obtain work visa in the United States. “After four hours of dialog, our appeal was denied (for) several factors," Puentevella said in a text message to GMANews.TV. He said the task force will be back in Manila on Friday morning. A more formal press statement on the outcome of their meeting with CGFNS officials was being drafted as of posting time. In a statement posted in its website March 5, CGFNS stood firm on its February 14 decision to deny VisaScreen Certification to the June 2006 passers of the Philippine nursing licensure exam. Puentevella met “in extended discussion" at the CGFNS headquarters with CGFNS Board of Trustees president Dr. Lucille Joel, chief executive officer Dr. Barbara Nichols, and counsel to CGFNS John Ratigan. With Puentevella were Professional Regulation Commission chair Leonor Tripon Rosero, Remigia Nathanielz representing the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Nurses Association, and Renato Aquino, president of the anti-retake Alliance of New Nurses that groups the June 2006 exam passers. “After listening to and reviewing the concerns of the delegation, Joel and Nichols explained that CGFNS's decision was based on the requirements of U.S. law and was not subject to re-negotiation or further review," the CGFNS statement said. “As Dr. Nichols advised Dr. Rosero, the decision on this issue made and announced by the CGFNS Board of Trustees on February 14 was unanimous," it further stated. “That decision is final, and will not be reconsidered," it declared. “The Philippine delegation accepted that fact." Before leaving Manila, Puentevella was hopeful the CGFNS would listen to the task force after reviewing the documents they have sent ahead of their trip. “We expect the worse and hope for the best. We know we have a very slim chance but who knows? After the dialog, maybe God will make a way," he said. “If we succeed, 17,000 families will have a new life, and if we fail, at least the 17,000 passers will know that we gave it our best shot. We did not turn our backs on them," said Puentevella, former chair of the House committee on youth and sports development. Earlier, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said it would be better to hold off talks about the nursing board exam retake so as not to preempt the effort of the congressional task force. In its decision, the CGFNS had required nurses who took the June 2006 nursing licensure exam to retake the leaked parts of the exam before being given VisaScreen certificates issued by the CGFNS in support of a health care professional's application for a US working visa. Nichols, CGFNS chief executive said the circumstances surrounding the irregularities and court rulings were all taken under consideration but CGFNS is designated as a mandate of US immigration law to make a determination about visa applicants' education, licensure, training and experience. - GMANews.TV