URGENT APPEAL TO THE INTERNATIONAL YOUTH AND STUDENT COMMUNITY

URGENT APPEAL
March 24, 2010


RELEASE ARRESTED PUP STUDENT LEADERS


Ensuing protests by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) students against the proposed 1666% tuition increase by the PUP Administration started on Thursday, March 18, led to the arrest of five students of PUP today.

Arrested are Cheyser Soriano, PUP main campus Central Student Council President, Judy Anne Fabito and Pi Em Canela , League of Filipino Students members, Fennin Louise Umagat, College of Lanuages and Lingustics Vice President, and Abriel Mansilungan of Kabataan Partylist. From Station 8 in Sta. Mesa, they were brought to Western Police District later today.

The arrested student leaders were leading PUP students in a protest march today towards the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to protest PUP's callous super-hike announcement without consultation with the students when they were blocked by police for alleged robbery of the chairs which the students took out from PUP campus to manifest their situation.

PUP administration announced the tuition hike informally and only through its website informing that the incoming freshmen students of PUP will be charged 200 (1$us = 45 pesos) peso per unit instead of the current 12 peso per unit starting the next semester on June subject to the approval of the Board of Regents (BOR). The BOR meeting is set on March 29 which the students criticized as mere formalization of a rail-roaded deal.

On Thursday, March 18, angry students of PUP Sta. Mesa campus threw dilapidated chairs from the fourth floor in one of the buildings inside campus to demonstrate their disgust at the government's neglect of the PUP education situation despite its being the biggest state university in the country. The next day, hundreds of students joined the protest actions inside PUP, threw again decripit chairs and desks and set them ablaze.

“PUP is supposed to be the most accessible university with its P12 tuition fee. What would happen now to our poor students and high school graduates? They have nowhere to go to,” said Cheyser Soriano, student council president.

Students criticize state abandonement of its responsibility with its decreasing allocation to education.Similar had also been imposed by state universities like the University of the Philippines increasing by 300% in tuition two years ago.

PUP's budget this year was decreased by 43 million pesos despite its almost 60, 000 student total population in 21 campuses all over the country. PUP is known to be the university where most of the poorest families send their sons and daughters.

However, Dr. Dante Guevarra, PUP President defends the 1666% tuition hike proposal and says that students should contribute by paying higher tuition because of the budget slash.

The student leaders vowed to continue the protests in all PUP campuses until the PUP administration withdraws the proposal. Today's pronouncement of the CHED warning PUP on hasty and un-consulted tuition hike did not balk student leaders in their plans for massive protest action on March 29 during the supposed BOR meeting.

"The arrests done today on the prodding of the PUP administration is a shameless and desperate action of PUP administration to weaken our resolve. We will not bow down to whatever harassment case the administration will unjustly press against us because we want the CHED and the whole country to watch the dilapidated chairs as symbol of our education in PUP . Tuloy ang laban! (Onwards with the struggle)," Cheyser said.

PUP students and supporters staged an indignation rally and vigil tonight in front of the WPD and vowed to stay there until the release of their peers. They were held for robbery counts.



Onwards with the Struggle, NO to 1666% Tuition Hike
No to Commercialization of Education,
Higher State Subsidy to Education!
(from LFS National)