Isang resolusyon sa Kamara na naglalayong ibalik ang budget cuts na ipinataw sa state universities and colleges (SUCs) sa ilalim ng P5.268-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB) para sa 2023 ang inihain nitong Miyerkules, Setyembre 21.

Ang naghain ng panukala ay si Kabataan Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel. Kasamang maghain ng kabataang mambabatas ang kapwa militanteng solon na sina Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas at ACT-Teachers Rep. France Castro.

Binanggit sa resolusyon ni Manuel na 81 SUCs ang makararanas ng kabuuang pagbawas sa badyet.

“In the proposed 2023 national budget, SUCs are given a total budget of P93.08-billion (P93,084,429,000), a decrease of P10.89 billion (P10,894,581,000) or 10.48 percent from this year’s P103.97 billion (P103,979,010,000),” anang resolusyon.

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Ang isang SUC, ang Marikina Polytechnic College, ay orihinal na may badyet na P1,150,702,000 sa ilalim ng 2022 General Appropriations Act (GAA). Para sa 2023 NEP, nagkaroon ito ng 80.92 porsiyentong pagbawas sa badyet, at ibinaba ito sa P219,602,000. Ito ay pagbaba ng P931,100,000.

“Cuts in operating costs will adversely impact the capacity of SUCs to safely reopen their campuses for full face-to-face classes amid the Covid-19 pandemic. SUCs have also been given limited fiscal space for capital outlay which they strive to augment with their own revenue-generating sources,” saad ni Manuel sa kaniyang resolusyon.

Ang batas ay nagdidikta din na ang mga pandagdag na pondo ay ilaan upang tumulong sa ligtas na muling pagbubukas ng mga paaralan.

“There is also a need to provide an immediate supplementary budget to facilitate further the safe reopening of schools through funding of Proper Ventilation of Learning Spaces, On-Campus Health Facilities and Supplies, Hiring of Human Resources for Health, Support for Private Educational Institutions, Medical Fund for Free Treatment, Internet Allowance for Teachers, Devices for Teachers, Compensation for Work Rendered in Excess of Teaching Hours and Additional Compensation for Co-curricular Activities, Hazard Pay for Teachers and Education Personnel, and Student Aid,” pagpapatuloy ng panukala.

Sa paghahain, sinamahan ng mga solons ang mga pinuno ng estudyante ng SUC, na sina: Siegfried Sevrino ng University of the Philippines (UP) System-UP Los Banos, Albiean Reyalde ng Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Latrell Felix ng UP- Diliman, Jonas Abadilla ng UP-Diliman, at Kairo Co ng Unibersidad ng Makati.

“If our [SUCs] are to be expected to perform their duties, they must be funded accordingly,” dagdag nito.

Seth Cabanban