The Supreme Court En Banc at Baguio City court (UNTV News)
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A temporary restraining order was issued by the Supreme Court stopping CHED from implementing the change in the curriculum.
Through Memorandum Order 20, the CHED limited the general education curriculum to 36 units in college, and removed Filipino and literature as subjects.
Supreme Court Spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te stated, “The court resolved, without giving due course to the petition, to: (c) issue a temporary restraining order, effective immediately and continuing further orders from this court, enjoining the respondents from implementing and enforcing the provisions of the Commission on Higher Education memorandum No.20, series of 2013, insofar as it excluded from the curriculum for college Filipino and Panitikan as core courses.”
Apart from the TRO, the Supreme Court ordered the CHED to submit their comment on the petition within ten days.
The CHED refused for the meantime to give a reaction on the TRO.
The said memorandum was questioned at the Supreme Court because CHED did not consult colleges and universities before issuing the memo.
The said memorandum also violated various provisions of the constitution, especially articles 13 and 14 which concerns national language, culture and nationalism.
Apart from this, according to the petitioners, almost 20,000 full time professors and 10,000 part time professors of Filipino and literature in colleges are at risk of losing their jobs or receiving lesser salaries.
National artist Bienvenido Lumbera led the group of college professors in filing the petition.
Among the petitioners are ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Anakpawis Party-list Rep. Fernando Hicap and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.(RODERIC MENDOZA / UNTV News)