Youth representative appeals for the restoration of Ched's P351.9 million budget cut
A partylist representative on Thursday appealed to the House Committee on Appropriations to restore the P351.9 million cut from the 2017 budget for maintenance and other operating expenses of state colleges and universities (SUCs).
Kabataan partylist Sarah Elago filed House Resolution 393, stating that the slashed P351.9 million from the proposed P3.35 trillion will affect 35 SUCs nationwide.
“Ang kinatawang ito mula sa mga kabataan ay nanawagan na irestore ang mga bawas pondo sa mga maintenance at operating expenses ng 35 state universities at colleges,” Elago said in a conference.
She said more funds are needed to promote free and quality public education in the tertiary level.
“Tinatawagan din ang makapangyarihang Commission on Appropriations na magalay ng mga option kung paano natin mapapalaki pa ang pondo ng ating mga SUCs at sa kabuuan ng ating higher education," Elago called out.
Different student leaders and regents from public and private educational institutions attended the conference to support the partylist’s appeal for the restoration of budget, additional funding and promotion of free education.
Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson Ann Hofer, in a lunch meeting, expressed her support to the youths’ call for free education and promised to “work together” their concerns on the budget.
Hofer was one of the main referrals of the pending House Bill No. 33, an act to establish and provide free college education in state universities including appropriation of funds.
“Itutulak po natin ang ating karapatan sa edukasyon dahil ito’y isang bagay na hindi lang susi sa pagunlad ng ating kabuhayan,” Elago said. ###
