Quezon City is considering legal action against Bestlink over the off-campus activity problem

Quezon City Government Considers Legal Action Against Bestlink College Over Off-Campus Event Mismanagement

MANILA – The Quezon City government announced on Wednesday that it is considering legal action against Bestlink College of the Philippines for what it described as "serious lapses" in organizing a recent off-campus activity. The decision follows a viral outcry on social media, where posts showed students walking long distances, exhausted and hungry, after attending the school’s foundation day activity on January 26 in Hermosa, Bataan.

In a statement, the local government emphasized that it was exploring legal options to hold the school accountable for its failure to adequately manage the event. The Quezon City government is also considering policy reforms to better regulate large student off-campus events to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Quezon City Council cited several key concerns, including "inadequate safety measures, lack of medical preparedness, and logistical failures" that resulted in students being stranded for hours. These issues were exacerbated by the fact that the event's organizers had initially reported only 17,000 attendees, but the actual attendance reached 25,000, placing additional strain on local resources and causing delays in transportation and emergency response.

Vice Mayor Gian Sotto also criticized the school for its "poor coordination with local authorities" and for failing to implement a concrete safety plan. According to reports, there were only six ambulance units available for more than 25,000 attendees, which led to significant transportation delays. The Quezon City government highlighted social media posts from parents and students that described "instances of exhaustion, dehydration, and fainting due to the lack of proper arrangements."

Moreover, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte condemned Bestlink College for dismissing the students’ concerns as "fake news" rather than addressing the legitimate issues. She urged the school to take responsibility for the incident and to avoid intimidating or threatening students who raised concerns. Belmonte emphasized that students and parents should be able to voice their concerns without fear of retaliation.

Adding to the severity of the situation, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) revealed that Bestlink College of the Philippines had not filed the required application to conduct the off-campus event. According to CHED Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Jaro, an initial investigation found that Bestlink had not complied with the CHED Memorandum Order of 2017, which sets policies and guidelines for local off-campus activities. These regulations require higher education institutions to meet a checklist of requirements before, during, and after an event.

The Quezon City government’s move to hold Bestlink College accountable reflects a broader concern for student safety and well-being, with the local government reaffirming its commitment to ensuring such incidents do not happen again. With the ongoing investigations and potential legal actions, the outcome could lead to significant changes in how large student events are managed in the future.