The Commission on Audit (COA) Central Office conducted a performance audit on March 18 at Cebu Technological University-Main Campus to assess the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Program.
Focused on accountability, effectiveness, efficiency, and impact, the performance audit aimed to evaluate the institution’s fund transparency, enrollment and graduate employability outcomes, resource optimization, and inclusivity in advancing national goals.
During the opening of the visit, Co‑Audit Team Leader Ms. Jodelyn P. David of the Performance Audit Office (PAO) stressed inclusivity as a cornerstone of the review.
“We will also assess the program’s inclusivity, particularly its effective reach among marginalized sectors in underserved regions, as well as its impact on national development goals (SDGs),” she said.
To gather experiences, measure outcomes, identify improvements, and promote inclusivity, the COA team, facilitated by Ms. Sarah Lynn T. Del Fierro, PAO Team Member, surveyed UAQTE student‑beneficiaries under Free Higher Education (FHE) and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).
Personnel involved in the program’s planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation were also interviewed. Among those who participated were Ms. Janet A. Saragena, Campus Scholarship Coordinator; former Scholarship Director Mr. Irvin A. Narsico (Administrative Officer IV–HRMO III); and the office heads of finance, accounting, admission, and registrar.
Before the interview, the team paid a courtesy call on CTU key officials, namely Dr. Romeo P. Montecillo, VP for Student Affairs; Dr. Ramel C. Genobiagon, VP for Administration and Finance; Dr. Reylan G. Capuno, VP for Academic Affairs; Dr. Rosein A. Ancheta Jr., VP for Production, Extension, and Resource Generation (PERG); Dr. Pet Roey L. Pascual, VP for Research and Development; and Campus Director Dr. Gregorio P. Pajaron Jr.
Established under Republic Act No. 10931 in 2017, the UAQTE program grants free higher education and financial aid to qualified Filipino students, implemented through the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
