STUDENT groups in the University of the Philippines strongly opposed the P1.3-billion cut in the school’s budget for 2022, saying that the “government does not prioritize the education sector.”

On Monday, the Department of Budget and Management proposed a P20.1 billion allocation for UP next year, much lower than the university’s budget proposal of P36.5-billion for 2022. For next year, UP proposes an extra P18.5 billion on top of its current budget.

Under the school’s proposal, the UP Philippine General Hospital will get around P8.6 billion. Also, P15.6 billion will be for workers’ salaries, wages, and compensation, P9.3 billion for utilities, and P11.5 billion for infrastructure projects.

“Sa panahong kinakailangan hindi lamang ng UP, kung hindi ng buong sektor ng edukasyon, ang mas malaking alokasyon ng badyet bilang suporta sa mga kaguruan at manggagawa, solusyon sa kahirapan dulot ng remote learning, at panlaban sa mga banta ng pandemya, budget cut ang tugon ng rehimeng Duterte,” STAND UP said in a statement.

“Ang pagbawas na ito ay tuluyang pagbalikwas sa panawagang ligtas na balik-eskwela na siyang malinaw na manipestasyon na hindi ito prayoridad ng pamahalaan,” it added.

The group explained that the budget cut has an impact on the health sector, saying that the government will make it harder for the university “to cater and ensure the Filipinos’ health and safety amid the pandemic.”

“Ang pagkaltas ng badyet sa UP ay pagkaltas din ng badyet sa kalusugan,” it said.

Meanwhile, the UP Asian Institute of Tourism Student Council said that the budget cut showed the negligence of the administration to the education sector.

“Bababa ang bilang ng mga estudyanteng matutulungan sa ilalim ng Student Learning Assistance System dahil mababawasan ang kanilang pondo,” the council said.

“Kaugnay rin dito ay ang tinatanaw na lalong kahirapan ng pagkuha ng slots para sa mga klase sa unibersidad dahil sa kakulangan ng pondo para sa resources na kakailanganin ng ating mga guro. Para naman sa mga manggagawa, magiging mas mahirap ang pagreregularisa, at pagbibigay ng sapat na sahod at karampatang benepisyo,” it added.