KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel lauded student leaders from Central Luzon for their stellar effort to self-organize and provide better representation and leadership to carry forward long-time student demands for an increased education budget.

This was after student leaders from Central Luzon State Universities and Colleges signed a manifesto of unity against proposed budget cuts to education during a regional education summit hosted by the Bulacan State University Office of the Student Regent.

The event was mainly organized by the Central Luzon Union of Student Trustees and Regents comprising student leaders from Bulacan State University; Bataan Peninsula State University; Aurora State College of Technology; Philippine State College of Aeronautics – Pampanga; Pampanga State Agricultural University and Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.

Manuel was invited as a guest speaker to discuss an analysis of the 2024 national budget from the youth’s perspective to help guide campaign plans and direction given that Congress is nearing the end of its budget deliberations.

The solon promised to continue to lobby its proposed budget amendments to fellow senators so that it may be considered in their version of the General Appropriations Bill.

“Sa ilalim ng ‘Bagong Pilipinas’, lumolobo ang alokasyon sa bayad-utang, pork barrel, panunupil at mga proyektong pang-akit ng dayuhan. Kaya kapugay-pugay na nagkapit-bisig ang mga lider-estudyante ng Gitnang Luzon para igiit taasan ang pondo para sa SUCs. Lalong dapat itulak ng mga estudyante at kabataan na ilaan ang karampatang pondo sa edukasyon at iba pang serbisyong panlipunan,” Manuel said.