TACLOBAN CITY – Pira nga mga unibersidad ha Sinirangan Bisayas an nakiusa ngan pumirma ha panawagan han Kabataan Partylist nga igbalik an gin ibanan nga budget para han mga State Universities and Colleges (SUC’s) ha 2025.
“The majority of these budget cuts were focused on capital outlay, or the funds allocated for facilities, equipment, and other investments that would serve them for “periods longer than the next fiscal year,” kaparte han nagin unity statement.
Dugang pa hini nga imbes ibanan an budget nga para ha mga SUC’s in angay daw la nga dugangan pa lugod ini nga pondo agud naman nga masabayan an paghitaas liwat han demand han nagtitikadamo nga mga estudyante nga nasulod ha higher education.
“Additional budget is needed for our learning institutions to regain their public character and provide ample support for student services and faculty development. If our SUCs are expected to carry out their duties as higher education institutions, they must be funded accordingly,” yakan pa han ira nagin statement.
Kun mahihinumduman in gin propose han Department of Budget and Management (DBM) an P113.75 Billion para ha mga SUC’s ha 2025 nga kun diin, han una naman nga tuig in nakaada ini ha P128.13 billion.
Subay naman ha report han An Lantawan (official student publication han Leyte Normal University) nga posible maapektuhan an unibersidad hin maabot ha P1.46- million nga cut ha maintenance ngan iba pa nga operating expenses (MOOE) ngan an P82.5-million decrease ha capital outlay.
“In the National Expenditure Program for fiscal year 2025, State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) are set to suffer a significant decrease in their funding with a total budget cut of Php 14,481,231,000. Majority of these cuts were focused on budgets for Capital Outlay, which includes facilities, equipment, and other investments that will serve these institutions for periods longer than the next fiscal year. This is despite a proposed increase in the budget for the Free Higher Education Program, meaning that the Marcos, Jr. administration has acknowledged an increase in the enrollment rates for next year. ” nakabutang pa ha ira statement.
Lakip naman nga nakiusa ha panawagan an mga unibersidad ha Sinirangan Bisayas sugad kanda Dr. Victor Cañezo, Jr. han Biliran Province State University (BiPSU), Dr. Jude Duarte han Southern Leyte State University (SLSU), Dr. Prose Ivy Yepes of Visayas State University (VSU), ngan Dr. Evelyn Aguirre han Leyte Normal University (LNU).
“We, the undersigned, hereby register our call on the 19th Congress of the Philippines to restore the slashed budget for all State Universities and Colleges and to further augment the Higher Education Budget for fiscal year 2025. Additional budget is needed for our learning institutions to regain their public character and provide ample support for student services and faculty development. If our SUCs are expected to carry out their duties as higher education institutions, they must be funded accordingly.” pagdugang pa nira.
