Speaker backs bill regulating tuition

MANILA, Philippines – House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles said on Sunday that he would endorse pending measures seeking to regulate tuition increases in light of planned fee hikes by several private educational institutions. "It’s just inappropriate. Increasing tuition at this time of global economic recession is not the smartest move," Mr. Nograles was quoted as saying in a statement. More than 200 private higher educational institutions are planning to increase tuition for school year 2009-2010. Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin C. Remulla, vice-chairman of the committee on higher and technical education, said his committee is consolidating three separate bills seeking to set up a Tuition Fee Regulatory Board. The committee is expected to form a technical working group that would meet even during the recess and consolidate the three separate pending measures into a substitute bill for endorsement to plenary on the resumption of session on April 13. Congress went on recess last March 6. The measures were filed by South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Magnolia R. Antonino-Custodio (1st district), Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teodoro A. Casiño Jr. and Iloilo Rep. Judy J. Syjuco (2nd district). "Public welfare is paramount and we will exercise our oversight powers to see to it that our laws are not circumvented by greed," Mr. Nograles said. Monsignor Gerardo O. Santos, Catholic Education Association of the Philippines president, said the group has no position yet and has to study the pending measures. "Our opinion is to be considered during the hearing It’s still up for discussion," he said in an interview. But he said that educational institutions are "prudent enough" in raising tuition, noting that employee salaries and benefits and improvement of facilities should also be considered. "We’re also sensitive to our employees. When we don’t raise tuition, we also can’t increase the salaries of our employees," Mr. Santos added. - Bernard U. Allauigan, BusinessWorld