Davao City- Militant youth organization League of Filipino Students- Southern Mindanao Region expressed its disapproval on the education budget cut proposed by Pres. Noynoy Aquino in favor of putting the highest budgetary priority to debt servicing and military. This as nationwide clamor against the budget cut on state colleges and universities echoes a similar campaign by students overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom who are also crying against the arbitrary slash on their government education subsidy.
“The budget cut smacks right into the face of Pnoy who falsely claimed that the 2011 national budget is a reform budget. The plan to slash state spending on state universities and colleges is a clear negligence of students' rights,” said LFS- Southern Mindanao Regional Spokesperson Karlos Manlupig.
“This is also contrary to the constitutional mandate that the Philippine government should place high premium on education in terms of national budget allocation and other sources,” LFS added.
The University of the Philippines- Mindanao and the University of Southeastern Philippines are the state-owned schools in the Davao that will suffer from the budget cut.
“At least 120 students joined the forum against budget cut in UP Mindanao, whose budget will be slashed by P1.39 billion-- the highest from among the 112 SUCs. A symbolic protest action followed as students rallied in front of the Oblation,” Manlupig cited.
“We also hail the militance of the students of the University of Southeastern Philippines Mintal who staged a spontaneous walkout that led to a dialogue and later, a support from with the Dean. As the fourth university out of 112 SUCs that has the biggest budget-cut, the students were outraged with the P44.39 million slash,” said Manlupig.
USEP main campus in Obrero registered its firm stand in opposition to the budget-cut through a candle lighting protest supported by all college governors. Students appealed that “if Pnoy is really sincere in addressing the poor, disadvantaged and marginalized sector, he must make education as his top priority.”
“We have already warned Noynoy. For as long as the demands of the people are neglected, particularly on the right of the youth for free and quality education, we will intensify the struggle to resist and crush this rotten system,” said Manlupig.
The youth group along with the Kilos Na Laban sa Budget Cut and Kabataan Partylist will lead thousands of students in a nationwide strike on November 30 and December 1. ###
