PSU brass snub SP invitations
LINGAYEN–The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) decried the continued refusal of the officials of the Pangasinan State University (PSU) to appear at the ongoing investigation of the reported anomalies in the implementation of the university’s on-the-job-training (OJT) program for its graduating students.
Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, a member of the ad hoc committee, said three invitations were already extended to officials of PSU led by its president Dr. Dexter Buted, but these were snubbed.
Rosario said the first time the invitation was extended, no PSU official attended and offered the alibi that they were busy with the start of classes.
The second invitation was ignored ostensibly on the advice of the university’s legal counsel since a parallel investigation on the matter was being conducted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).
However, a CHEd official who attended the hearing denied a parallel investigation was being conducted.
On the third invitation, PSU officials said they could not attend because they have not secured the approval of the university’s board of trustees to appear before the provincial board.
“It was my first time to hear that school officials first need the authorization of their board before they can accept the invitation of the provincial board,” said Rosario.
He said a clarification is needed because of the reported inconsistencies in the claims of the university’s officials and the host of the OJT program.
This became evident when graduating students in management were referred by PSU to a manpower placement company in San Carlos City which in turn referred them to Interphil Laboratories in Laguna whose business is different from the field of study of students taking the OJT.
The host company admitted the students were paid salaries as casual workers contrary to the intent of the OJT program, said Rosario.
The controversy was highlighted by student Dharel Garcia, who became ill due to his long exposure to chemicals at Interphil Laboratories.
Owing to the continued refusal of the PSU officials to attend the committee hearings, Rosario said they will instead be compelled to attend the Question Hour on Monday. (Leonardo Micua)
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