STUDENTS and professors of the University of the Philippines Diliman held an outdoor grand teach-in at Palma Halll to participate in the national discourse on the 2024 budget and demand for the restoration of almost P3 billion slashed budget of UP next year.

“The UP Diliman community stands up today against this latest corruption scheme of confidential funds as how we marched in thousands against pork barrel ten years ago, and all other brazen ploys before to plunder the public coffers. It is our duty as iskolar ng bayan to be the social critic and defend the welfare of the people who fund our education,” Prof. Francesca Kwe, vice president of the All UP Academic Employees Union Diliman Chapter, said.

“While P10 billion is being allotted for confidential and intelligence funds in the 2024, the budget for state colleges and universities will be slashed by P6 billion, the biggest chunk of which will be suffered by UP with a budget cut of almost P3 billion,” UP Student Regent Iya Trinidad said.

“Ultimately, it appears that the penchant of the executive branch for CIF is snatching away resources for the education of our youth,” she added.

“Fighting the confidential funds and demanding for higher education budget is standing up for our future. We come here united and ready to march again in thousands to assert our demands. Together with professors and students of other state colleges and universities, we will hold a grand lobbying march to Senate on November 9, as the chamber holds plenary debates on the 2024 budget,” said Trinidad.