THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) has ordered the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) to answer and act on the claims of the Manila-based contractor of the terminated P200-million building construction project.
In a letter addressed to Rosalito Quirino, USTP president (officer-in-charge), the Commission has asked the university to comment on the position paper of Wing-An Construction and Development Corp. president Selwyn Lao within seven days.
The letter dated February 8 was signed by Nadine Escalona of the office of the Ched chairperson.
The commission also asked the USTP to furnish them with copy of the university's action and response.
In their position paper, Lao maintained that Wing-An has not violated any provisions of the contract.
He also questioned why the payments of his billings were withheld.
Lao has requested a re-investigation and review of Wing-An's claims in a letter addressed to Quirino last December 8.
He said he received no response.
Similar appeal was sent to the new chair of USTP's Board of Regents, Ched commissioner Ronald Adamat, last January 28.
Lao said he is now seeing a green light to his previous complaint which he claimed was ignored by the previous Ched leadership.
"At least ngayon may nakikita na akong pag-asa na ma-resolve ang problema dahil dati binalewala nila lahat ng issues that I brought up as if na wala akong karapatang mag-complain and as if sila lang nasusunod at laging tama," Lao said.
Lao alleged that conspiracy exists among some high ranking officials of USTP and the former Ched chair Patricia Licuanan, who at that time sits as the university's BOR chair.
Because of conspiracy, he said it appears to him that the unfinished 8-storey Student Center and Education Complex has already been programmed on how it should turn out.
He said after the contract was terminated and his collectibles were held back, he first sought the help of Ched, but has never been acted.
"Lahat sila magkasabwat. In short naka-program na sa kanila kung ano ang gusto nilang mangyari sa project. Silang lahat from the board to USTP officials at considering na Ched ang una kong nilapitan para i-complain ang problema," Lao said.
"I put my trust sa new Ched leadership. Its time really to sanction them or else feeling nila invincible sila at untouchable," he added.