RONALD Ian Evidente, regional coordinator of ACT Teachers partylist in Negros Island Region (NIR), Wednesday urged Negrense congressmen to help defend and restore the slashed budget of state universities and colleges (SUCs).
The SUCs has proposed P351.9 million in maintenance and other operating expenses, and P1.64 billion in capital outlay.
The Negrense lawmakers include: from Negros Occidental, Melecio Yap of the First District; Leo Rafael Cueva, Second District; Alfredo Benitez, Third District; Juliet Marie Ferrer, Fourth District; Alejandro Mirasol, Fifth District; Mercedes Alvarez, Sixth District; and Greg Gasataya, Lone District of Bacolod; and from Negros Oriental, Joselyn Sy-Limkaichong, First District; Manuel Sagarbarria, Second District; Arnulfo Teves, Third District; Gary Alejano of Magdalo; and Stephen Paduano of Abang Lingkod.
In a press statement, Evidente pointed out that the huge cut in education budget deliberated at Congress plenary session will affect Carlos C. Hilado Memorial State College’s (CHMSC) MOOE amounting to P10. 728 million or a 15.7 percent decrease from their 2016 budget.
Also, the capital outlay of Central Philippines State University (CPSU) was slashed by P12.512 milion or about 15.7 percent from their last year’s budget, he added.
Evidente appealed to Negrense solons to help lobby to restore the slashed education budget to make college education offered by CHMSC and CPSU accessible to youth from marginalized sectors like peasants and workers in Negros.