Students challenge presidentiables to take stand

Student leaders from all 21 Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) campuses and branches nationwide gathered in Manila today to express system-wide unity against the proposed 1,700 percent tuition hike in the university.

Student councils from PUP campuses and branches in Manila, Quezon City, San Juan, Taguig, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Quezon, Camarines Sur, Batangas, Cavite, Oriental Mindoro and Laguna announced in a press conference today that they are gearing for nationwide protests against the tuition hike.

According to Donna Pascual, PUP Student Regent and convenor of Alyansa ng Nagkakaisang Konseho ng PUP (ANAK-PUP), a system-wide alliance of PUP student councils, centralized and decentralized protests will be spearheaded by the student councils nationwide starting tomorrow until the PUP Board of Regents meeting on March 29.

Challenge to presidentiables
Pascual said, “The tuition increase will affect mostly students from poor families. This is a very important national issue that should be addressed by presidential aspirants. We challenge them to make a stand on the proposed tuition hike in PUP.”

Vencer Crisostomo, secretary-general of Kabataan Partylist, echoed Pascual’s statement, “Those who promise to advocate better access to education, a better future for our youth, (and those) who declare that they want to help the poor should make a categorical stand against the proposed tuition hike in PUP and other state universities.”

Crisostomo said that a clear platform against unjust tuition increases and for affordable and accessible education is expected of every presidential candidate. “The next president must increase the budgetary allocation and state spending for education and should impose a moratorium on tuition hikes,” he said.

“PUP protests have inspired students from other colleges and universities nationwide to also hold protest actions against tuition and other fee increases in their respective schools,” Crisostomo said.

Tomorrow, March 24, ANAK-PUP will hold a protest in front of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) National Office in Quezon City, while students from PUP campuses will be holding simultaneous protests in front of CHED Regional Offices in their respective provinces and regions.

ANAK-PUP will be joined by their fellow Iskolars ng Bayan from the University of the Philippines (UP) and Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Technological Institute (EARIST) who are also protesting new fees and tuition hikes because of poor budget allocation for state colleges and universities.

Mounting support
Aside from Rep. Maza, Makabayan senatorial candidate Rep. Satur Ocampo and presidential candidate Bro. Eddie Villanueva, both PUP alumni, already expressed their opposition to the PUP tuition hike. Other PUP alumni are also getting ready to mount solidarity protest actions. NP senatorial candidate Atty. Adel Tamano has also expressed support for the students.  ###

Reference:

Donna Pascual, PUP Student Regent, 09239708549

Vencer Crisostomo, Kabataan Secretary General, 0917-4416739

Gerg Anrol Cahiles, Media Officer, 0927-3670948