TWO senators on Thursday urged the Commission on Higher Education to investigate an alleged degree for sale scheme in some universities in Cagayan.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian stressed the need for prompt investigation on reports of foreign students in Cagayan allegedly paying up to P2 million for degrees.

“I strongly support the internationalization in our higher education institutions but I vehemently oppose any practice allowing the proliferation of diploma mills in our country. Selling diplomas or degrees undermines our efforts to improve the quality of education in the country,” Gatchalian said.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Educatiion further said CHED must impose appropriate penalties or sanctions on HEIs and their officials who condone such practices.

“We should send a clear message to our country and the world: diplomas from Philippine HEIs are not for sale,” he stressed.

For his part, Senate Minority leader Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III said the CHED should look into the issue and be strict in implementing regulations in order to suppress these irregularities.