The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has taken action against Bestlink College of the Philippines, issuing a show cause order due to the college’s unauthorized out-of-town founding anniversary celebration held in Bataan. CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III announced that the order was issued because the college failed to submit the necessary documents to the CHED Regional Office National Capital Region before conducting the off-campus activity.
Reports from students who attended the event at Punta Belle Resort in Hermosa, Bataan, highlighted severe logistical issues and safety concerns. Many students were left stranded for hours without transportation back to Manila. In response, CHED has initiated an investigation and promised to enforce sanctions if the situation warrants it. De Vera emphasized that they would review Bestlink’s response to the show cause order before deciding on any violations and subsequent penalties.
This incident marks the second off-campus mishap for Bestlink College, following a tragic event in February 2017 where 15 students died and 40 were injured during an activity in Novaliches, Quezon City.
In a parallel move, the Quezon City government has launched its own investigation into the recent Bestlink incident, led by Vice Mayor Gian Sotto. Mayor Joy Belmonte stressed the importance of student safety across jurisdictions and the city’s commitment to thoroughly investigate such incidents to prevent future occurrences. The city aims to identify and address any policy and protocol gaps that may have contributed to the incident.
The Quezon City council will focus on various aspects of student safety during large school events, including event management, safety and security protocols, student supervision, mandatory participation policies and fees, stakeholder engagement, coordination with local government units and authorities, compliance with national regulations, and support for affected students and families. Majority Floor Leader Dorothy Delarmente expressed the city’s intent to work with CHED and the Department of Education to address these concerns comprehensively.