PUP empowers the poor through quality education

Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) President Dr. Emanuel C. De Guzman registered today that the state university is home of the “Tunay na Iskolar ng Bayan.”

 

Dr. De Guzman said that PUP is where the sons and daughters of farmers, fisherfolks, factory workers, jeepney and tricycle drivers, washerwomen, fishball vendors and other marginalized folk are empowered to acquire quality education and lead successful, productive lives.  

 

“PUP will continue to commit itself to empower the poor in the country through quality education. And we did this and continue to do so by consciously keeping tuition within reach of the downtrodden sectors of our society. We offer the lowest tuition among state universities and colleges (SUCs) at P12.00 per unit. But we managed to produce quality students through quality education,” Dr. De Guzman said.  

 

Among outstanding alumni of PUP are current UST Rector Magnificus Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, multi-awarded broadcaster Ted Failon, Eastern Petroleum President Fernando Martinez, University of the East (UE) founder Francisco Dalupan, legal luminary Romeo Macalintal, this year’s one of Metrobank’s Outstanding Teachers Galcuso Alburo, international journalist Jimmy Flor Cruz, Benjamin Punongbayan of SGV accounting firm, outstanding lawmaker Rep. Carlos Padilla, renowned evangelist Eduardo Joel Villanueva, and educator and respected performing artist Rustica Carpio.   

On the other hand, President De Guzman also commented on recent pronouncement of the International Labor Organization (ILO) country representative in the Philippines that there is a mismatch between the courses offered by the schools and jobs to be filled in the country by Filipinos. 

 

“The ILO has said there is a mismatch problem between education and jobs. We intend to ensure that not only will we work for a good match between education and job, but we will also strive that poor students will not miss out on job opportunities once they leave the university,” Dr. De Guzman said. 

 

The PUP president, however, stressed that there is still a need for additional budget coming from the national government and fund-support from various local governments.  

“PUP is only the state university that offers educational equivalent of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program provided to the poor by the present administration. But, it is clear that additional budget appropriation for PUP coming from the national government will mean more poor Filipinos will benefit from the high quality education that we are offering. PUP, is home of the “tunay na iskolar ng bayan” and we are steadfast not to veer away from this role in Philippine society,” Dr. De Guzman said. 

 

Press release from Polytechnic University of the Philippines