Negros Oriental State University President Dr. Henry A. Sojor has admitted that it is not just at NORSU but all state universities and colleges throughout the country where faculty and staff have benefitted from the so-called economic relief assistance (ERA) for the last three years.
Dr. Sojor’s statement comes in the heels of a report published in the online news site of PhilStar (www.philstar.com) that said the Commission on Audit has warned NORSU it may be “held criminally and administratively liable for wilful violation of the law” for granting millions of pesos in economic relief allowance from 2008 to 2010.
The report also said the COA has directed NORSU officials to make a refund, quoting records that showed that in 2010 alone, more than P14.6 million in ERA were given to unnamed university officials.
Furthermore, the COA report has recommend that NORSU officials “discontinue the disbursement of the unauthorized ERA, otherwise they could be held liable for wilful violation of the law”, the online news article said.
Sojor, however, said such fund is approved based on the charter of state universities and colleges which is governed by the board of regents. Some SUCs call it as financial incentives.
For NORSU, Sojor said, it has given its faculty and staff a maximum of P30,000 , including part timers every year for the last three years, source of funds of which is taken from the university’s savings and not from government coffers.
“However, if the Board of Regents will order me to release the ERA for NORSU, I have no choice but to obey orders from the governing body,” he said.
As to questions whether the Commission on Audit is on top of corporations like state universities and colleges, Sojor said the final arbiter is the Supreme Court. Sojor also said if the high court will order a refund, all of them including utility workers and janitors will make such refund.
There are 111 SUCs all over the country and 50 local colleges and universities that are also mandated by their own charters to extend financial incentives, and the like. In the absence of the ERA, Sojor said by March next year, they are hoping for the release of the CNA or the collective negotiation agreement depending on the availability of funds. (PNA/JFP/Juancho Gallarde)
