Senate minority leader opposes budget cut on SUCs

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on late Wednesday expressed his formal opposition to the billion-peso cut on the budget of state universities and colleges (SUC). In Wednesday's budget deliberations, Cayetano, who is Senate minority floor leader, said he was "concerned" that the cut on SUC subsidies might drastically increase the number of college students who will drop out because they can no longer afford to pay the higher tuition. "How can we reconcile the policy of the President to have quality education in all levels but at the same time cut the budget of Commission on Higher Education by about 30 percent and also of the SUCs," he said. Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate education committee, agreed with Cayetano. "What you're saying is true. While the 2011 budget put a very strong bias on basic education, it was at the expense of tertiary education," he said. However, he had earlier said they cannot restore the budget cut on each and every SUC. But he said that they have suggested a P268-million budget increase for the research and development programs of selected SUCs. As for the other state institutions, he suggested that these SUCs be financially independent by utilizing their land grant and conducting fund-raising activities. Cayetano, however, was not convinced. "I still think that they cannot raise the money to run it. (So) I hope that this will not be the final form of the budget," he said. Earlier in the day, around 100 students from different SUCs stormed the Senate to protest the cut. (See: Students storm Senate over budget cut on state colleges, universities) SUCs with highest budget cuts The University of the Philippines (UP) and the Philippine Normal University (PNU) are among the top five SUCs expected to sustain the largest budget cuts. The UP budget will be reduced by P1.39 billion, a decrease of 20.11 percent from 2010 to 2011, while that of PNU will be cut by P91.35 million, or a 23.59 percent decrease. The other three schools with large budget cuts are Aurora State College of Technology in Aurora province, with a 22.21-percent budget cut; J.H. Cerilles State College in Zamboanga del Sur, with 21.95 percent; and the University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City, with 20.03 percent. Kabataan partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino had earlier filed a bill seeking a three-year moratorium on hikes in tuition and other school-related fees, amid continuing student protest actions against budget cuts in the education sector. (See: Youth solon files bill seeking tuition freeze)—Kimberly Jane Tan/JV, GMANews.TV