Lawmakers, groups want SUC budget restored

Lawmakers and at least two groups on Tuesday asked Congress to increase or at least restore the government allocation for state universities and colleges (SUCs). In a press conference, Senator Koko Pimentel, Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino, Anakbayan, and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) asked Congress to increase or at least restore the budget for SUCs in 2012. The Department of Budget and Management proposed a P25.8-billion budget for 110 SUCs in 2012. But Palatino said they had asked for a P45-billion budget and were given an allocation that was even P200-million less than their budget this year. "Ang ating demand po ay itaas ang budget ng state universities... Para sa ‘tin ay makatwirang demand, at the minimum ibalik po ‘yung kinaltas," he said during the press conference at the Senate. He likewise asked Congress to give SUCs budget for capital outlay, which he said can be used to modernize facilities and create buildings. "Last week po sinabi ni President Noynoy na ang kanyang love life ay parang Coke, from regular to light to zero. Sa totoo lamang, yung mga state universities ang dapat gumamit ng metaphor na ‘yun... ang kanilang capital outlay dati regular, panahon ni President Arroyo light at since 2011 and then the proposed budget of President Noynoy, zero capital outlay," he said. Palatino said the low funding for SUCs is the cause for recent the slip of Philippine universities from worldwide rankings. "Nakakalungkot po ‘yung survey na ‘yun pero hindi na surprising... kasi ito na ang direct consequence ng reduced subsidy for public higher education," he said. PASUC-NCR president said that the budget cuts are felt by the students “right inside the very classroom." “Kailangan po kami mag-institute ng mga savings measures para kami'y makatipid sa mga gastusin," he said, adding they sometimes have to shut down their elevators and lights even when there are still classes. But he said that they are not inclined to increase tuition because most of their students are from poor families. 'Edukasyon na may kalidad' “They come from very poor families. Some are even from the E economic levels, many are from the D economic levels... Mga anak po ng mga obrero ‘yan, tricycle drivers, mga construction workers," he said. “Pero kung hindi naman po kami bibigyan ng pondo na mas maganda at mas naaayon sa pangangailangan ng mga paaralan, hindi naman po namin mabibigay sa mga estudyante ang talagang tamang edukasyon na may kalidad na makapagbibigay sa kanila ng tamang kinabukasan," he added. In the House of Representatives, the DBM's proposed budget for 2012 has been approved without amendments at the committee level. But Sen. Koko Pimentel, who volunteered to host the press conference, said he will personally move for the increase or restoration of the budget for SUCs when they tackle it in the Senate at the committee level. "Ako po'y naniniwala na education is the great equalizer. Actually, it is one of the keys out of poverty, if it is not the only key to solve our problem of poverty. Let us prioritize education because that is investing in our people," he said on Tuesday. He said there should be no problem to initiate this because the Philippine Constitution mandates that Congress give priority to education. Anakbayan national chairperson Venser Crisostomo added the suggestion that Congress realign certain items in the budget to education. He specifically cited the budget for the conditional cash transfer program, debt servicing, and intelligence funds. In the meantime, he said they will be preparing for a nationwide strike from September 19 to 23 to oppose the budget cut on SUCs. "Umaasa po kami sa mga aksyon na ito na aming gagawin makikinig po ang ating mga kongresman at senador," he said. The DBM, meanwhile, had earlier said P500 million of the budget for SUCs was placed under the Commission on Higher Education supposedly to make sure that their curricula is "focused" on the priority areas for economic development. — VS, GMA News