No tuition increases have been approved for the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Manila, Dr. Espinosa Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology in Masbate, and the Mindanao State University campus in Sulu—the three state institutions that are seeking fee hikes.
Angeles said he would also try to convince 290 private tertiary schools across the country to defer planned tuition increases in the coming school year.
“The public shouldn’t worry. I will not allow it,” he said.
Angeles made the announcement after days of student protests, particularly at PUP, where “more than half as million pesos” worth of school property was damaged or destroyed.
On Wednesday, students took their protests to the CHEd office in Quezon City which sustained damage of “half a million pesos,” Angeles said.
“They behaved like uneducated people. They’re studying in universities but they’re acting as if they’re uneducated,” he said.
Angeles said the protesters who destroyed public property should be held liable for their actions.
“Those who can be identified, I think they have to answer for this action because we are still a democratic country,” he said.
Angeles said the CHEd would try to provide money or help raise funds for the three SUCs which, he said, only wanted to raise fees to improve their facilities.
“The tuition of P12 per unit (at PUP) is not sufficient to get a good education, but P200 per unit is exorbitant. I have just talked to PUP president Dante Guevarra and I told him that this is not the time for increasing fees,” he said.
“We’ll try to help them from our limited funds, plus donations alumni and business. We’ll do some fund-raising to improve their facilities,” he added.
Angeles said the students should take their protest to Congress and agitate for it to increase the government budget for education.
“Our education budget is only a little over 1.2 percent of GNP when in other countries it is about four percent. That’s why they have first-class education,” he said.
Angeles said the 290 private tertiary schools which are asking for tuition-hike approval will have to “go through the eye of the needle.”
“Out of 1,781 tertiary schools, 290 are intending to increase as of March 23. This is not yet final so I intend to appeal to them so that their increase would be reasonable,” he said.
Angeles said the private schools are seeking an average increase of 10.19 percent.
The biggest number of private tertiary schools seeking an increase come from Metro Manila (74 schools), Calabarzon (50), Central Luzon (39), and Central Visayas (24).
David Mikael Taclino
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