Newly appointed Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Mimaropa Regional Director Edna Imelda Fernandez-Legazpi said she is currently negotiating with the administrations of Palawan State University (PalawanSU) and Western Philippines University (WPU) to address various concerns, particularly the recent issue where BS Architecture and BS Mechanical Engineering graduates were unable to take licensure examinations due to the non-issuance of a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) from CHED and the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).
Legazpi stated that the discussions will cover other concerns related to PalawanSU’s programs and explore “possible positive courses of action” to resolve these issues.
She further said that she has required all campus directors to attend the meeting to determine which programs face challenges.
“Marami kaming concerns pag-uusapan tulad ng mga iba-ibang programa nila, kung ano yung mga hakbang na dapat gawin ng PSU para hindi na magkaproblema yung mga graduates ng architecture, engineering, education, nursing, criminology…,” Legazpi said in an interview with the media.
“Lahat ‘yun pag-uusapan namin at dadalhin ko kay Chairman Popoy De Vera bilang chair ng Board of Regents ng PSU para maresolba yung issues na nangyari nitong nakaraan,” she added.
She also assured PalawanSU and all state universities and colleges (SUCs) of CHED’s commitment and support in resolving their concerns so that students will not encounter the same problems again in the future.
Legazpi further said that students who were unable to take their licensure exams recently will have the opportunity to reapply for the next schedule.
She revealed that there are more than 300 graduates from different courses who still need COPC approval but were granted the chance to take the exams while the COPC is still under evaluation.
She explained that the CHED en banc has passed a resolution allowing these graduates to take their licensure exams until September.
“After September 25, kailangang ma-comply na yung mga requirements na nilatag ng commission at ng PRC. Hindi lang PSU ito, we are talking of a national level where lahat ng schools na walang compliance ay hindi na makaka-take ng exams pag walang COPC,” she said, adding that they have recommended to the PalawanSU administration to conduct a free review for those who were unable to take the recent exams.
Legazpi also clarified that the requirements for PalawanSU’s compliance are relatively simple, and one of them has already been completed.
“Isa sa requirements is paghiwalayin ang College of Architecture at College of Engineering, na ginawa na. May BOR resolution na, so ganun lang kasimple. And ano ang operations ng program,” she said.
She admitted that there are some challenges, particularly in terms of lacking facilities and equipment, but believes that this can be addressed with proper support from the administration.
“Medyo challenging lang yung mga kakulangan sa kagamitan, katulad ng engineering equipment, miniature laboratory nila, na sa tingin ko hindi naman ganun kabigat kung may suporta na galing sa administration. Bakit hindi tayo magpatulong at magpa-donate sa mga alumni, yung mga mayayaman at magagaling na na-produce ng PSU?” she added.
