200 students, staff hold protest

Around 200 students and faculty members of the University of the Philippines Cebu held a walkout yesterday to protest an  impending P2-billion cut of the school’s  budget for next year.

From the current budget of P13.14 billion this year, the Department of Budget and Management is proposing P10.9 billion for the UP system  nationwide next year.

Vince Francis Dingding, a 4th year Computer Science student, said being an Iskolar ng Bayan was important to him because his parents are jobless.

“I am afraid that the budget cut will result in tuition  hikes and other school fees,” Dingding said.

Dingding belongs to  Bracket D of UP’s socialized tuition scheme (STS) and  pays P200 per unit of his subjects.

Student  protesters gathered at the UP Cebu grounds bringing streamers and placards.

France Degamo, chairman for Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante, led the stage protest.

Students and teachers shouted “Education is not for sale! Edukasyon, edukasyon, karapatan ng mamamayan!”

Then they entered the  Arts and Sciences building and passed by  classrooms, shouting  “Walk out na yan! Walk out na yan!”

They marched to a nearby hotel and continued the protest outside UP Cebu grounds.

Degamo said that it will be the fourth and  biggest budget cut under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

In UP’s STS, students under bracket A will pay P1,000 per unit; P600 for bracket B; P400 for bracket C; P200 for bracket D while students under brackets E1 and E2  enjoy free tuition.

Ilene de Vera, a senior Mass Communication student, said she was paying P400 per unit last year. It has  increased to  P600 per unit.

Glorie Nacar, a senior biology student, said she should be free from paying tuition with her bracket under the STS but now, she is paying P400 per unit.