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CHED on Daniel Matsunaga's honorary doctorate: We don't recognize it

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Jasmin Romero, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/09/17/20180917-daniel-matsunaga.jpg"/><figcaption>Actor Daniel Matsunaga receives an honorary doctorate from Brethren Evangelical School. Screengrab/@dandanmatsunaga/Instagram</figcaption></figure></div>The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has clarified that it does not recognize the honorary doctorate conferred on actor-model Daniel Matsunaga by Brethren Evangelical School of Theology (BEST) earlier this month.CHED OIC Prospero de Vera said this is because the commission doesn’t recognize BEST. “Hindi sila nag-apply para magbigyan authority na magbigay ng degree programs, kasama dito ang magbigay ng honoris causa,” he explained.Last September 8, Matsunaga posted on Instagram a video of him receiving the honorary doctorate in Humanities, major in Social Work, writing in its caption he was “very honored.”De Vera said universities that were given recognition by the commission, and those considered “autonomous universities” are those allowed to give honorary degrees.“Para sisiguraduhin natin na ang mga binibigay nilang honorary degree ay may value,” he said.Autonomous universities are institutions whose reputations have been tested over time, like De La Salle University, Ateneo de Manila University and Lyceum of the Philippines University, de Vera explained.“Ito ang mga pinakamataas na kalidad na universities sa Pilipinas. Pag autonomous university ka, hindi mo na kailangang magpaalam sa CHED. Hindi na namin pinag-aaralan ang pagbigay ng honorary degree kasi sigurado kami sa kanilang pagtuturo. At ang mga pamantasan na iyan, ay hindi nila isasalang ang reputasyon ng kanilang pamantasan sa pagpili ng taong bibigyan ng honorary degree,” he said.Therefore, these degrees cannot be given out so lightly.“Ang honorary degree ay reserved for people of outstanding credentials, performance, contributions to the school, to the nation, to humanity. Iyan po ang binibigyan ng honorary degree, honoris causa. Hindi ‘yan ibinibigay sa kung sino-sino lang,” he added.De Vera clarified, however, that the decision of the commission is not an attack against Matsunaga.“Walang kinalaman kay Daniel Matsunaga ito. Ito ay prinsipyong pinaiiral sa buong Pilipinas. Baka nagkataon lang na tinanggap niya ito. Sayang. Sana na-check niya sa komisyon para nasabihan siya na may problema ‘yung binigay na honorary degree. Sana nagtanong siya,” de Vera said.Some fans of the actor took to social media to defend Matsunaga, with a number claiming that the commission was remiss in its duty to police institutions like BEST.But De Vera defended CHED.He said: “Our regional offices immediately go after universities. We issue show cause orders to require them to explain why they are offering degree programs without the authority of the commission, and we institute the necessary legal proceedings to close them.“Marami na po kaming naipasara, naipatigil na pamantasan. Pero ang kailangang tandaan ng ating mga kababayan, there are almost 2,000 universities in the country. ‘Yan ang mga legal, ‘di pa kasama diyan ang mga illegal. So malaking trabaho ito. Kaya nag-aaksyon kami immediately kapag nakita namin.”The question now is — are there other students or recipients of degrees who hold diplomas that have no value? Yes, according to CHED, and this is why it is calling on students, and their parents to check their schools and their degrees if they are CHED-recognized.“Lahat ng listahan ng mga authorized schools at list ng degree programs, available ang impormasyon na iyan. Puwede kayong magtanong sa mga regional offices at website ng CHED. Kapag andun sa listahan ng CHED, legitimate ‘yan.“Pag wala doon, walang value ang diploma, walang value ang inyong transcript of records. Kung ang inyong kurso ay kailangang kumuha ng licensure exam, hindi kayo papayagan ng PRC (Professional Regulation Commission),” he said.Since the incident involving Matsunaga, the higher education commission is now investigating the controversial school, according to de Vera.“Humingi na kami ng show cause order. Hihintayin namin ang kanilang sagot. Bibigyan natin ng due process, at depende sa kanilang sagot, pag-uusapan ng komisyon kung ano ang susunod na ligal na aksyon,” he said.If found at fault, the commission will issue an announcement denouncing BEST as part of their penalty.“Ii-iinform namin lahat na anumang degree program na nakuha nila dito ay walang saysay. Iyon ang penalty, kasi ‘di na mag-e-enroll ang mga estudyante,” de Vera said.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has clarified that it does not recognize the honorary doctorate conferred on actor-model Daniel Matsunaga by Brethen Evangelical School of Theology (BEST) earlier this month.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has clarified that it does not recognize the honorary doctorate conferred on actor-model Daniel Matsunaga by Brethen Evangelical School of Theology (BEST) earlier this month.

CHED on Daniel Matsunaga's honorary doctorate: We don't recognize it

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CHED on Daniel Matsunaga's honorary doctorate: We don't recognize it

Jasmin Romero,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 17, 2018 06:17 PM PHT

|

Updated September 17, 2018 06:54 PM PHT

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Daniel Matsunaga

CHED

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