Manila students protest proposed budget cuts

MANILA, Philippines — Students from various universities in Manila cried foul over the proposed substantial cuts in the budget of the public education system.

Officials of student bodies and progressive groups in schools such as University of the Philippines (UP) Manila, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM), De La Salle University, Far Eastern University (FEU) and University of the East held a rally in front of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) along Taft Avenue on Friday.

They protested proposals to significantly reduce the budget of the education sector and the prioritization of the mandatory reserve officers’ training corps or ROTC.

Some protesters carried a photo of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno, who earlier called on the government to review the enforcement of Republic Act 10931, the law on free education in state universities and colleges, calling it “inefficient and wasteful.”

An estimated P2.9 billion would be reduced from next year’s proposed budget for the UP system, according to Kyla Benedicto, councilor of UP Manila’s student council.

The budget cut could delay the ongoing renovation projects in some facilities of UP Manila, as well as affect the operations of PGH, she said.

“The budget cut is the reason UP Manila could not restore full face-to-face classes, and why we lack spaces like dormitories where both students and professors could live,” she added.

Benedicto said the billions of pesos allotted for confidential and intelligence funds should instead be used for basic services like education and health.

Meanwhile, the future of an estimated 18,000 PLM students remain uncertain with the threat of the Commission on Higher Education to exclude the university as a beneficiary of RA 10931, said Angela Gando of progressive group Anakbayan’s PLM chapter.

The threat of delistment would deprive PLM of an annual subsidy of P350 million, according to earlier reports.

“We fear that each of the 18,000 students who rely on free education will have no choice but to pay P30,000,” Gando said.

She also warned that more students would suffer should threats to delist other universities such as the University of Makati, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and City of Malabon University as beneficiaries of RA 10931 be fulfilled.

On the other hand, FEU student Ryan Ferrer criticized Congress’ efforts to allegedly railroad the passage of bills mandating ROTC in universities, saying it is “an additional burden for students and parents.”