The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Monday announced that an investigation is underway against Bestlink College of the Philippines following an out-of-town activity on January 26 that allegedly compromised the welfare of its students.
According to CHED Chairperson Prospero De Vera III, a show cause order will be issued against Bestlink College for conducting an off-campus activity without submitting the required documents with the CHED Regional Office-National Capital Region.
De Vera stated that he had directed CHED NCR Director Jimmy Catanes to investigate the incident.
Students took to social media to share challenges they faced during the off-campus founding anniversary celebration, including "disorganized, overheated, or unavailable transportation," lack of accommodations, and extreme exhaustion.
In response, the local government urged educational institutions to prioritize student safety and carefully plan large-scale events, citing reports that the activity caused severe traffic disruptions and serious safety concerns.
Bestlink College has yet to release an official statement on the matter.
This is not the first time the institution has faced scrutiny. In February 2017, a bus carrying Bestlink students on a field trip lost its brakes and crashed into an electricity post in Tanay, Rizal.
The accident resulted in 15 deaths and injured an estimated 40 students.
Following the 2017 incident, CHED imposed a moratorium on field trips, which was later lifted in December of the same year.
