Ni: Merlina Hernando-Malipot
Patuloy na maniningil ng matrikula ang University of the Philippines (UP) sa kabila ng naunang pahayag na pansamantalang suspendido ang assessment at pangongolekta ng tuition fee at iba pang bayarin sa ilang campus nito hanggang na makapaglabas ng “clearer guidelines” sa implementasyon ng “Free Tuition 2017”.
Sa memorandum na inilabas ni UP President Danilo Concepcion na may petsang Agosto 1, 2017, ipinaliwanag niya na nag-isyu ang Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na sundin ang Joint Memorandum Circulars (JMCs) sa Mayo 2018 na namamahala sa pagkakaloob ng tuition subsidy.
Ang JMCs ay tumutukoy sa JMC 2017-1A o ang “Amended Guidelines on the Grant of Free Tuition in State Universities and Colleges for Fiscal Year 2017 on Free Tuition 2017” at ang JMC 2017-4 o ang “Implementing Guidelines for the Cash Grants to Medical Students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges, pursuant to the Special Provision applicable to SUCs, RA 10924, also known as General Appropriations Act of FY 2017.”
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Ang Tuition Subsidy na ibinigay sa ilalim ng mga nabanggit na JMCs, ayon kay Concepcion, “shall be in addition to the financial support being extended by the UP System to qualified students.” Idiniin din niya na “in the assessment of tuition and other fees and in providing financial support to students from low-income households,” gagamit ang UP ng Socialized Tuition System para sa SY 2017-2018.
