Shirley Agrupis, the chair of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), is under increasing scrutiny due to her frequent overseas engagements. This has raised concerns about whether she has become the most traveled chairperson in the agency's history and what benefits her travels have brought to Philippine higher education.
Critics and observers in the education sector have taken notice of Agrupis' growing presence in international meetings and are now demanding more openness regarding the quantity, expense, and results of her international travels.
Her latest trip to Paris has brought the issue back into focus.
In a social media post, Agrupis described the extreme heat in Paris, claiming temperatures had reached 43 degrees Celsius and were "too hard to tolerate/survive."
She also made broad observations about Paris' preparedness for climate change, claiming that the "world's most famous city appears to be unprepared or did not anticipate that climate change would occur."
Agrupis went on to complain about the lack of air conditioning in homes, apartments, some hotels, and public places, saying there was "practically NO place to hang on" in the heat.
The remarks raised eyebrows over the tone of a senior Philippine government official commenting publicly on conditions in a host country while attending an international engagement.
Agrupis ended her post with a call to action on climate change: “LET US save our planet EARTH.”
The post drew reactions online, including one social media user who remarked: “Let's save our planet earth tapos nag travel sa Paris. Hahaha.”
Beyond the social media exchange, however, questions over Agrupis' foreign travel remain.
Her overseas schedule has drawn criticism for possibly exceeding that of previous CHED chairpersons. The number of trips Agrupis has made, their funding sources, and the quantifiable results of each engagement could all be determined by reviewing and making public CHED's official travel records.
The head of CHED frequently travels abroad, especially as Philippine universities expand their international partnerships and take part in regional and global education initiatives.
However, observers contend that the frequency of these interactions ought to be matched by definite and observable advantages for the nation's higher education system.
Since taking office, how many foreign trips has Agrupis made? What specific initiatives, collaborations, or chances for Filipino students and institutions have come from these engagements, and how much money has been spent on them?
The increasing focus on Agrupis' foreign travel is unlikely to go away without more openness at a time when CHED is still dealing with urgent domestic issues.
The records will determine whether Agrupis is, in fact, CHED's most travelled chairperson. What Philippine higher education has gained from all the miles traveled is a more crucial question.
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