AMA Education System Files Complaint Against CHED Chairperson for Violation of the Anti-Red Tape Law

 

AMA Education System (AMAES), through its President, Engr. Arnel F. Hibo, has filed a complaint before the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) against Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) over CHED’s repeated failure to promptly respond to official requests and communications.

AMAES, which operates a network of around 150 schools nationwide, about half of which are managed by franchisees, is led by AMA University, a CHED-accredited autonomous institution.

According to AMAES, the complaint stemmed from what it described as an “extremely urgent” circumstance resulting from the CHED’s successive issuance of two derogatory advisories, later followed by a third advisory. AMAES said the advisories have caused significant damage to the institution and its stakeholders because its unfettered dissemination ruined its reputation and led to confusion and concern among students, parents, and the institution’s business partners.

In an effort to resolve the matter diplomatically, AMAES said it sought a clarificatory discussion with the CHED Chairperson through formal letters sent on April 27, April 29, and May 8. The institution said the requests aimed to address concerns surrounding the advisories, including what it described as a lack of due process given to it by CHED.

AMAES argued that the monitoring visits used as the basis for the CHED’s decisions were conducted during the height of the pandemic, when the institution had fully shifted to online learning operations.

Despite repeated requests for dialogue, AMAES said no response was received after more than two weeks, prompting the filing of the ARTA complaint.

AMAES also criticized what it described as “a typical display of arrogance and indifference to stakeholders” by the CHED Chairperson that contributed to a breakdown in public service.