MISAMIS Oriental Governor Yevgeny Vincente Emano on Wednesday, March 29, said he will help block plans by the Commission Higher Education's (Ched) to close the External Studies Centers (ESCs) operated by the Bukidnon State University (BSU) in Northern Mindanao and elsewhere.
Emano said he is not in favor of the closure order which will displace over 5,000 students of Misamis Oriental alone.
He said although while it is not under his power as governor to stop the order, he will help any move for the continuation of the external studies.
"It's not under my power but I can assure that I will help and support any move for the continuation of the external studies offered by BSU," he said.
The Misamis Oriental Provincial Board already passed a resolution urging President Rodrigo Duterte to stop Ched's order and allow the ESCs to continue operating.
The Provincial Board said closing the ESCs would displace thousands of students, mostly the poor and from marginalized families.
It added that closure should only be implemented when the Ched can assure the thousands of students a long-term, better, accessible, and affordable tertiary education institutions are in place.
The Ched has directed BSU to close some of its ESCs Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Caraga starting Academic Year 2016-2017 for not complying Ched's policies and standards.
Among the violations are the BSU's violations in the establishment of institutional sites and buildings, library standards, and programs' compliance.
The order also stated that the governing board of BSU should desist from expanding its operations without complying first with all pertinent CHED policies, standards, and guidelines, "to ensure those who have less in life be provided with recognized higher education degree."
Misamis Oriental has three external centers in the first district, while second district has seven ESCs, and another one in this city.
The BSU's main branch is located in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon province.
