Aquino slashes budget of state schools in 2011 proposal

State universities and colleges (SUCs) will experience drastic cuts in their budget if Congress approves the Aquino government’s 2011 budget proposal.

In the budget proposal submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress last August 25, the combined budget for 112 SUCs is cut by 1.7% from P23.8 billion in 2010 to only P23.4 billion this year.

Among those with the biggest budget cuts are University of the Philippines (-P1.39 billion or 20.11%),Philippine Normal University (-P91.35 million or 23.59%), Bicol University (-P88.81 million or 18.82%),University of Southeastern Philippines (-P44.39 million or 20.03%), Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (-P31.65 million or 15.91%).

Huge cuts are proposed in the budget for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of all but 15 SUCs, some by more than 50%. The combined total operations budget for SUCs will be cut by P1.1 billion, or by 28.16%.

Abandoning education

These education budget cuts will surely lead to further increases in tuition and other fees in state-run schools, a trend that has intensified in the past years under the past administration.

In 2006, UP hiked its tuition fees by 300%, pegging its tuition rate at more than P40,000 per year per student, even higher than tuition rates of some big private schools. This signaled increase in fee rates in other state universities in the country. Last March, a plan to increase the tuition in Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) by 2000% was met and was successfully blocked by mass student protests.

As it is, obtaining a college diploma is already impossibility to many poor Filipinos, with only 14% of those who enter elementary being able to finish college. 40% of college students are studying in SUCs; this percentage is growing as many are not able to afford the skyrocketing tuition rates in private schools.

It should be noted that budget cuts as huge as these are historically unprecedented. No other president has cut the operations budget of state schools as much. The planned budget cuts this year send a clear message that the Aquino administration intends to continue the policy to further commercialize education and abandon government responsibility in funding SUCs. This is as Aquino claims that his 2011 budget is anchored on “reform” and is “biased to the poor and vulnerable.”

Aquino offered no apologies for the budget cuts even as this policy is contrary to what the constitution sets as government’s responsibility to provide accessible and quality education at all levels. In his budget message, he even indicated that there is more to come, as his government aims “gradually reduce subsidy to SUCs” to “push them toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent.”

“Increasing” DepEd’s budget

The Aquino spinsters claim that the 2011 budget is an “education budget” as it prioritizes the Department of Education (DepEd). In the proposal, the agency received a 18% budget increase from 175 billion pesos to 207 billion.

This budget, however, is around P300 billion short of the UN recommended education budget equivalent to 6% of the GDP.

The budget increase for this year will also not be enough to address the shortages in facilities and stop the deteriorating condition of our schools. The government aims to acquire only 18,000 new classrooms out of the 152,000 needed, 10,000 new teachers out of 103,599 shortage, and only 32 million new textbooks out of 95 million shortage.

It should be considered that the increase in the budget is intended to fund the widely opposed plan to add two more years to basic education. According to initial pronouncements, government plans to add P100 billion in 5 years, P20 billion every year. This means that whatever shortages the additional budget will cover will be offset once the government starts adding years to education.

Wrong priorities

On the other hand, the budget for debt servicing gets a boost. According to Ibon, the government proposal contained the largest absolute increase in interest payments in the country’s history, adding P80.9 billion to the budget in interest payments making it P357.1 billion. Including principal amortization (which is not included formally in the budget), total debt payments amount to P823.7 billion.

Ibon also notes the increase in war budget despite calls for austerity. The Department of National Defense (DND) also gets an increase from P96.2 billion to P104.7 billion. Budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), despite cases of human rights violations, will increase by P10 billion. The P6.6 billion increase in budget of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also most likely be channeled to counter insurgency.

Despite the Aquino government’s promise to curb corruption, Ibon also notes increases in patronage and corruption-prone funds such as the pork barrel, which increased from Php10.9 billion in 2010 to Php24.8 billion, dole-out funds which was allotted Php29.2-billion, and lump-sum funds for “Public-Private Partnership Support.”

The fight is on

The education budget cuts will surely anger the students, teachers, school administrators and parents. The Aquino government’s plan to further deny the people and youth of their right to education will be met by protests, mass actions and school walk-outs.

Hundreds of youth groups are now gearing-up for a nationwide walk-out this month. Protest activities and mass campaigns are being launched in schools nationwide. Student leaders are set to troop to Congress and Senate to pressure representatives to reject the proposed budget cuts.

A major battle between the youth and students and the Aquino administration is looming. (Anna Tolentino, LFS)

Aquino slashes budget of state schools in 2011 proposal

State universities and colleges (SUCs) will experience drastic cuts in their budget if Congress approves the Aquino government’s 2011 budget proposal.

In the budget proposal submitted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to Congress last August 25, the combined budget for 112 SUCs is cut by 1.7% from P23.8 billion in 2010 to only P23.4 billion this year.

Among those with the biggest budget cuts are University of the Philippines (-P1.39 billion or 20.11%),Philippine Normal University (-P91.35 million or 23.59%), Bicol University (-P88.81 million or 18.82%),University of Southeastern Philippines (-P44.39 million or 20.03%), Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (-P31.65 million or 15.91%).

Huge cuts are proposed in the budget for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) of all but 15 SUCs, some by more than 50%. The combined total operations budget for SUCs will be cut by P1.1 billion, or by 28.16%.

Abandoning education

These education budget cuts will surely lead to further increases in tuition and other fees in state-run schools, a trend that has intensified in the past years under the past administration.

In 2006, UP hiked its tuition fees by 300%, pegging its tuition rate at more than P40,000 per year per student, even higher than tuition rates of some big private schools. This signaled increase in fee rates in other state universities in the country. Last March, a plan to increase the tuition in Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) by 2000% was met and was successfully blocked by mass student protests.

As it is, obtaining a college diploma is already impossibility to many poor Filipinos, with only 14% of those who enter elementary being able to finish college. 40% of college students are studying in SUCs; this percentage is growing as many are not able to afford the skyrocketing tuition rates in private schools.

It should be noted that budget cuts as huge as these are historically unprecedented. No other president has cut the operations budget of state schools as much. The planned budget cuts this year send a clear message that the Aquino administration intends to continue the policy to further commercialize education and abandon government responsibility in funding SUCs. This is as Aquino claims that his 2011 budget is anchored on “reform” and is “biased to the poor and vulnerable.”

Aquino offered no apologies for the budget cuts even as this policy is contrary to what the constitution sets as government’s responsibility to provide accessible and quality education at all levels. In his budget message, he even indicated that there is more to come, as his government aims “gradually reduce subsidy to SUCs” to “push them toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent.”

“Increasing” DepEd’s budget

The Aquino spinsters claim that the 2011 budget is an “education budget” as it prioritizes the Department of Education (DepEd). In the proposal, the agency received a 18% budget increase from 175 billion pesos to 207 billion.

This budget, however, is around P300 billion short of the UN recommended education budget equivalent to 6% of the GDP.

The budget increase for this year will also not be enough to address the shortages in facilities and stop the deteriorating condition of our schools. The government aims to acquire only 18,000 new classrooms out of the 152,000 needed, 10,000 new teachers out of 103,599 shortage, and only 32 million new textbooks out of 95 million shortage.

It should be considered that the increase in the budget is intended to fund the widely opposed plan to add two more years to basic education. According to initial pronouncements, government plans to add P100 billion in 5 years, P20 billion every year. This means that whatever shortages the additional budget will cover will be offset once the government starts adding years to education.

Wrong priorities

On the other hand, the budget for debt servicing gets a boost. According to Ibon, the government proposal contained the largest absolute increase in interest payments in the country’s history, adding P80.9 billion to the budget in interest payments making it P357.1 billion. Including principal amortization (which is not included formally in the budget), total debt payments amount to P823.7 billion.

Ibon also notes the increase in war budget despite calls for austerity. The Department of National Defense (DND) also gets an increase from P96.2 billion to P104.7 billion. Budget for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), despite cases of human rights violations, will increase by P10 billion. The P6.6 billion increase in budget of the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also most likely be channeled to counter insurgency.

Despite the Aquino government’s promise to curb corruption, Ibon also notes increases in patronage and corruption-prone funds such as the pork barrel, which increased from Php10.9 billion in 2010 to Php24.8 billion, dole-out funds which was allotted Php29.2-billion, and lump-sum funds for “Public-Private Partnership Support.”

The fight is on

The education budget cuts will surely anger the students, teachers, school administrators and parents. The Aquino government’s plan to further deny the people and youth of their right to education will be met by protests, mass actions and school walk-outs.

Hundreds of youth groups are now gearing-up for a nationwide walk-out this month. Protest activities and mass campaigns are being launched in schools nationwide. Student leaders are set to troop to Congress and Senate to pressure representatives to reject the proposed budget cuts.

A major battle between the youth and students and the Aquino administration is looming. (Anna Tolentino, LFS)

Student orgs strongly oppose mandatory ROTC revival

Various student organizations have expressed their strong oppositions against the reinstitution of the mandatory Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program in tertiary schools. The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)-La Union Chapter, the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP) and Kabataan Partylist said that the students are better off without the revival of the mandatory ROTC program.

 The different organizations asserted that there were valid reasons why the program was replaced by the National Service Training Program (NSTP) which made it optional and those reasons remain true up to this time.

 Kabataan Partylist and other student organizations believes  that Rep. Eduardo Gullas’ House Bill 737, which aims to reinstate the mandatory ROTC program for male college students and optional for female students and abolish the National Service Training Program (NSTP) will only mean more problems to students rather than solutions.

 The youth sectoral partylist asserts that there is no real reason why the ROTC program should be reinstated as a mandatory program other than to increase the militarization in colleges and universities.

 Heightened military presence and repression

 In an interview with Lovely Ulpindo, the chairperson of CEGP-La Union Chapter, she said that the revival of the ROTC program may very well lead to the heightened repression against student organizations and bring back the irregularities that ultimately lead to its abolition .

 “We have to remember that the ROTC was made optional after the death of Mark Welson Chua way back in 2001 and because of the irregularities in the ROTC implementation. The government is trying to bring a failed and unjust program, “Ulpindo said.   

 Ulpindo also believes that the revival of the ROTC program will mean intensified military presence in the campuses. Ulpindo alleged that the ROTC program was and is being used by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in their Student Intelligence Network (SIN).

 “The College Editors Guild strongly opposes its revival because it will mean greater military presence in the campuses. I am afraid that it may also result to repression of student leaders because of the possibility of the reactivation of the Student Intelligence Network (SIN) as a necessary force for surveillances and other illegal activities.

 “Do we want another Mark Chua to make us realize that the ROTC should be rightfully abolished?”  , Ulpindo added.

 Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino said through a press statement that the ROTC must instead be scrapped as it is being used to harass progressive student groups critical of the government.

“The AFP uses the program in its red-baiting campaign against progressive student groups. In many ROTC lectures, soldier-instructors conveniently tagged student activist groups as affiliated with the New People’s Army. The ROTC is clearly a threat to academic freedom,” he said.

 Revival will reverse students’ gains

 Kabataan Partylist. Rep. Palatino said that proposed revival would “reverse and disregard the gains of the students in their fight against an unjust military training”.

 The ROTC was abolished in 2001 as a result of nationwide protests from students and victims of harassment and extortion following the death of University of Santo Tomas student and ROTC cadet Mark Welson Chua from alleged ROTC “hazing”.

 In December 2000, COCC cadets Mark Welson Chua and Romulo Yumul filed a complaint before the Department of National Defense alleging corruption, extortion and hazing in the University of Santo Tomas (UST)-ROTC unit.

 On March 16, Mark Welson Chua was reported missing and on March 18 his body wrapped in big red carpet was discovered floating in the Pasig River near Jones Bridge. His head was reportedly wrapped with silver packaging tape, his hands tied with shoestring while his legs bound by packaging tape.

 On April 30, then AFP Chief of Staff General Diomedio Villanueva and then DECS Secretary Raul Roco vow to work for the immediate abolition of the ROTC.

 ROTC is not needed to teach patriotism to students

Palatino also disputed the bill’s claim that the AFP-ran program would teach the students how to be patriotic.

“The ROTC has taught its cadets how to become blind and docile servants. With its grim and bloody human rights record, the AFP has no right to meddle with the academic affairs of our youth. A war-mongering and mercenary institution must not be allowed to infiltrate schools and teach students,” he said.

Einstein Recedes, national chairperson of the National Union of Students in the Philippines (NUSP) in an interview also rejected the argument that a mandatory ROTC program is needed to teach students patriotism and discipline. He said that the AFP through the ROTC program will only teach students blind obedience and will not necessary teach them patriotism.

Moreover he said that ROTC will teach the contrary to students citing the AFP’s human right records

“A quick glance at the human rights violations of the military and the corrupt practices within it is enough to negate the claim that ROTC will cultivate good citizenry among the youth. The youth who practice good citizenry by asserting the democratic rights of the people are surveilled and harassed in schools. Countless others have already been killed by reported military members,” he said.

 Focus on strengthening NSTP instead

 Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino said he intends to file a bill against the mandatory ROTC proposal which will instead focus on the strengthening of the community service components of the National Service Training Program (NSTP).

 According to Palatino, the proposal to make ROTC mandatory under the pretext of the need for an active citizenry and nation service ignores the fact that there is a current NSTP program with service components: Literacy Training Service (LTS) and Community Welfare Training Service (CWTS).

 “The youth should appreciate volunteerism and love of country without the unnecessary initiation to fascistic military tradition,” says the youth solon.

 Under the LTS, the youth are trained to be literacy and numeracy teachers to younger students, out-of-school youths in communities, indigenous people and other sectors in the society who needs their instructional assistance while the CWTS implements programs that address the social services of the people in the community such as the enhancement of facilities intended for improving health, education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and morals of the citizenry.

 Palatino’s proposal will contain specifications which will include in the NSTP curriculum disaster preparedness trainings, hands-on teaching in communities, medical missions, and livelihood trainings among others.

 “If the AFP urges that we need more machinery for disaster response and relief operations, then we should make that as a major component of the NSTP, in fact, some schools at present teach disaster preparedness trainings under NSTP,” said Palatino.

 “Ultimately, the service training program should be an enlightening and empowering experience which will breed nationalism among our youth and genuine intent to serve the poor and oppressed. The ROTC obviously failed in that aspect during the time of its implementation; it bred hatred, corruption, violence and docility. There is no reason to revive it,” he said.

3rd Gawad Manuel Arguilla

AMMOYO 2009

The College Editors Guild of the Philippines- La Union Chapter is proud to inform you that it will again celebrate a year of excellent campus journalism through its annual Journalism and Education Festival dubbed as “AMMOYO 2009” on September 11-13, 2009 at Paradiso Resort Hotel, Samara, Aringay, La Union.

Now on its 8^th year, AMMOYO aims to gather the budding campus journalists from different secondary and tertiary schools in the region to help them become efficient and responsible writers.

 Aside from journalism skills trainings, AMMOYO also offers workshops on literature and the arts and discussions on the latest socio-political issues of today.

Mr. Raffy Lerma of Philippine Daily Inquirer, Ms. Rowena Carranza of Bulatlat.com., Palanca Awardee, Mr. Erros Atalla and other renowned media practitioners are among the invited speakers.

In addition, GAWAD MANUEL ARGUILLA, the search for most outstanding literary student writers will also be held.

Join the 3rd Gawad Manuel Arguilla, College Editors Guild of the Philippines-La Union Chapter’s Annual Literary Contest.

 Contest Rules:   

1. The contest is open to all members of the student publications within Region 1 and the Cordilleras (membership to CEGP is not a requisite) except current officers of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines in any formation.
2.  There are two (2) divisions: English and Filipino.
3. Translation of an entry submitted in one (1) division will not be qualified in the other division. The contest has three (3) categories namely:

                           a. Short Story  b. Essay  c. Poetry    

5. The patriotic and democratic orientation of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) must be perceived in the entries.    

6. The entries should be original and must be solely written by the contestant. Writers should submit only one (1) entry per category.     

7. Only published works in their student publications during the first semester of Academic Year 2009-20010 and/or unpublished works will be accepted in the contest.    

8. All entries should consist of an original and three (3) copies.    

9. Entries must be computerized, double-spaced on a letter-size (8 ½ X 11 inches) white bond paper, with 1” margin on all sides.

10. The page number must be typed at the bottom-center margin of each page (e.g. 1 of 15).

11. The font style should be Times New Roman, Arial or Book Antiqua and the font size must be 12. A soft copy (CD copy with written category and title of the entry on the top) must be provided on each entry.

12. All entries must be sealed in a letter-size brown envelope. Only the title of the entry, category, and division should be written or typed on the upper left portion of the envelope. 

13. The author’s real name and address must not appear on the entry. An entry form must be accomplished at the secretariat area during the registration of the Ammoyo 2009.

14. All entries must be personally submitted not later than 10:00 pm during the first day of Ammoyo 2009.

15. Submitted copies of all entries shall remain with, and will be the property of the CEGP. 

16. In the short story category, an entry must be at least five (5) but not more than fifteen (15) pages.

17. In the poetry category, an entry must consist of a compilation of at least three (3) but not more than five (5) poems.

18. In the essay category, an entry should be at least five (5) but not more than fifteen (15) pages.

19. The Board of Judges shall have the discretion not to award any prize if, in its judgment, no meritorious entry has been submitted.

20.  The CEGP has the right to assign the persons who shall compose the Board of Judges   in each of the categories. The decision of the majority of the Board of Judges in all categories shall be final.

21. Top three on each of the categories will be declared winners.

22. The names of the winners and the members of the Board of Judges will be announced on the last night of Ammoyo 2009.

For inquiries, please contact Paola 09083981869.