Islamic City of Marawi (02 December) -- Students from Mindanao State University (MSU) main campus here in the city marched to MSU Peace Plaza yesterday afternoon to join the nationwide protest against the alleged budget cut of state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Protesters from various student organizations that include the College Editor's Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) - MSU Chapter, League of Filipino Students - Lanao Chapter, Liga ng Kabataang Moro, MSU Supreme Student Government, student councils from the different colleges, and college publications expressed their opposition to the alleged budget cut for the operations of 97 SUCs by P1.1 billion, zero allotment of capital outlay for SUCs, reduction in the scholarship funds of Commission on Higher Education by P650 million, and inadequate funds for basic education in the 2011 budget.
We are also trying collects signatures from instructors and administrative officials who are against the budget cuts, said Alamira Rasmia Nafisa Alonto, chairperson of CEGP MSU chapter.
She said they are likewise planning to hold a dialogue with the university administration to clear out issues and concerns regarding the university budget.
Many students will be affected by the cut and MSU will not be a university for the less fortunate anymore, she stressed.
Malacanang meanwhile reiterated that the 2011 budget for SUCs is in fact higher than last year.
President Benigno S. Aquino III pointed out that the P23.4 billion for SUCs in the 2011 budget is higher than the P21 billion over the 2010 budget.
The Palace emphasized that with respect to the budget, the budget for education is still the number one priority of the Aquino administration stressing that the entire education budget, which includes basic education, rose by 12.92 percent or to P271.67 billion from P240.58 billion in 2010.
At the same time, the Palace has issued an order to the heads of the SUCs to explain to the students that aside from the budgets they are getting under the 2011 General Appropriations Act, the SUCs have other sources of income to finance their operational requirements for next year.
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