Restore P10.85-billion cut in budget of SUCs, say solons in resolution

At least 30 members of the House of Representatives joined the call for restoring the P10.85-billion cut in the budget of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) for 2023.

The lawmakers signed House Resolution No. 403 filed by Kabataan party-list Representative Manuel to augment the appropriations of the state schools.

The signatories include: Reps. Gabriel Bordado of Camarines Sur; Jane Tan Castro of Capiz; David Suarez of Quezon; Mujiv Hataman of Basilan; Janine Salimbangon of Cebu; Maria Vanessa Aumentado of Bohol; Rhea Mae Gullas of Cebu; Presley De Jesus of PHILRECA; Edsel Galeos of Cebu; Zaldy Villa of Siquijor; Marcelino Libanan of 4Ps party-list; Arlene Brosas of Gabriela party-list; Stephen James Tan of Samar; Stella Quimbo of Marikina City; Sergio Dagooc of APEC party-list; Nicolas Enciso VIII of Bicol Saro party-list; Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte; Sittie Aminah Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte; Mildy Cua of Quirino; Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur; Josefina Tallado of Camarines Norte; Lex Anthony Aris Colada AAMBIS-OWA party-list; Juliet Ferrer of Negros Occidental; Samantha Santos of Cotabato; Wilbert Lee of AGRI party-list; Rachel Arenas of Pangasinan; Julienne Baronda of Iloilo city; Glona Labadlabad of Zamboanga del Norte; Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo and Amparo Maria Zamora of Taguig City.

"The 1987 Constitution mandates that the education sector should be given the highest budget priority and while we can say that the Department of Education has an increased budget but the budget for tertiary education has been suffering reductions. I am categorically and strongly calling for the restoration of the budget cuts of SUCs and the University of the Philippines (UP), particularly the Philippine General Hospital (PGH)," Bordado said.

Bordado was referring to the P2.5 billion budget cut on the UP system and the P893 million slashed from PGH.

"The recent P10.85 billion budget cut for SUCs makes it seem like there is less emphasis placed on tertiary education in the country, which is detrimental to our overall goal of providing the best education for our citizens," Bordado added.

The House leadership earlier said it will address fund gaps in the proposed P5.26 trillion budget for 2023. —LDF, GMA News