ECUMENICAL youth group Student Christian Movement on Thursday slammed the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte for the budget cuts in education and said that it holds the government accountable for the education crisis in the country.

“Filipino students are facing unprecedented crisis on their physical, mental, and emotional health. We hold the Duterte administration accountable for their corruption, negligence, and incompetence as Filipinos continuously face the pandemic,” SCMP National Spokesperson Kej Andres said.

On Thursday, the group joined other students and education stakeholders in a protest outside the House of Representatives. The protesters demanded higher budget for the Commission on Higher Education.

CHED earlier sought a P62.3 billion budget but the Department of Budget and Management reduced it to P52.6 billion.

“With so many Filipino students demanding P10,000 student aid for tuition and gadgets, we decry the Duterte administration’s prioritization of budget for infrastructure and fascism, as well as early electioneering and corruption. It is clear that the Duterte administration is putting its selfish interests, sacrificing the right of education of millions of Filipinos,” Andres said.

The protesters also demanded budget for programs that would ensure the “Ligtas na Balik-Eskwela.” They explained that the money would be used for intensified mass testing and contact tracing, effective vaccination rollout, P10,000 financial aid for students and other necessities needed for safe resumption of classes.

“We urge our fellow students to continuously express the true conditions being experienced by students and other stakeholders. We are one with the masses in holding the Duterte administration accountable in failing to provide ‘Ligtas na Balik-Eskwela’ for those deemed as the future of the nation,” Andres said.

The Philippines is one of only two countries in the world that have not yet reopened schools amid the Covid19 pandemic.