Hundreds of students from different state universities and colleges (SUCs) once again stormed the Senate to urge lawmakers to stop the billion-peso cut on their budgets. The students converged at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City before marching to the Senate on Wednesday. They then constructed a makeshift stage in front of the Senate building where they protested against the supposed budget cut on SUCs. In a statement, the Student Alliance of Democratic Rights in the University of the Philippines (Stand UP) challenged President Benigno Aquino III to spend the country's money on social services. "We reject his ridiculous contention that basic and tertiary education must be pitted against each other because there is money for one, but none for the other," said the group. Stand UP, however, noted that what was at stake was not just their tuition. "This is more than a matter of economics. This is a political struglle, a battle to determine the fate of the education sector," it said. UP and the Philippine Normal University (PNU) will be among the top five SUCs that will receive the largest budget cuts. The budget for UP will be reduced by P1.39 billion, a decrease of 20.11 percent from 2010 to 2011. On the other hand, PNU will receive a budget slash of P91.35 million, a 23.59 percent decrease from 2010 to 2011. The budgets for UP and PNU will be reduced by P1.39 billion, a decrease of 20.11 percent from 2010 to 2011; and P91.35 million, a 23.59 percent decrease, respectively. The other three schools in the list are:
Aurora State College of Technology, with a 22.21 percent budget decrease; Cerilles State College, with its budget slashed by 21.95 percent, and the University of Southeastern Philippines, with a budget cut of 20.03 percent. Last week, more than a hundred students from SUC had also trooped to the Senate to protest the cut. Expression of support Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and senators Francis Pangilinan and Juan Miguel Zubiri have earlier expressed support for the SUCs in their fight against the alleged budget cuts. Pangilinan said for many poor Filipinos, SUCs are their only hope of getting affordable and quality education. “Slashing their budget will deprive our youth a chance to fulfill their dreams of getting a diploma and becoming productive members of society," he said. Cayetano likewise 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. Zubiri, meanwhile, said the "hemorrhage" of government subsidy for SUCs must be stopped. "Education is always the right investment, that is where we must proceed," he said in a statement released early Wednesday. Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, for her part, proposed the augmentation of the UP system budget by P170 million. But Senator Edgardo Angara, chairman of the Senate education committee, said they cannot restore the budget cut on each and every SUC. He noted, however, that they have suggested a P268-million budget increase for the research and development programs of selected SUCs. However, Senator Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate finance committee, reiterated on Wednesday that there was no actual cut in the budget of SUCs. He explained that they just removed the congressional insertions that were vetoed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who said the funds cannot be released if the government does not earn revenue. "Mahirap gisingin yung gising (It's hard to wake up those who are wide awake)," said Drilon, pertaining to SUC students who continue to oppose a supposed budget cut. Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III likewise appealed to the SUCs to stop protesting against "ghost" budget cuts. As of posting time, the senators are in a caucus discussing the disputed items in the 2011 budget. - VVP, GMANews.TV 
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