Our university is
facing a number of issues, and as “iskolar
ng bayan”, we have to take part on it because we are also the ones being
affected by these issues.
Having Prof. Ruperto Alonzo and Dr. Judy Taguiwalo as speakers
for the forum last January 10, 2014, I became more aware of the issue about the
use of our land and got better details of it.
The issue of privatization is nothing new to UP. And the
reason for the involvement of private sectors was for the university to focus
more on its core mission – the pursuit of academic objectives and academic
excellence. And being the national university, it is clearly stated in Section
22 of R.A. 9500 that the state shall support us through land grants, donations,
and use of other properties. The income that can be derived from it will be
used for the university’s development. Since UP has a vast land area, it is
assumed by our government that the income generated from the lands being leased
is enough for us to be a self-sufficient university, thus budget cut still
continues.
The use of UP lands has a great connection with the issue
of our annual budget. It is said that most of our lands, despite the
commercialization that’s happening, are not generating income and the budget we
have from the government continues to decrease. If this is what’s happening,
then where would we get our budget now? Our administration will then pass the
burden to the students and increase tuition fees again. Going back to our core
mission, how could we achieve those academic missions if in the very first
place, pursuing education for “iskolar ng
bayan” becomes a privilege and not a right anymore?
I strongly agree with what the USC Chairperson said, that
with the issue of PDAF, how can the government say that there are no funds? And
with the use of our lands, there is the UP Ayala Land and Town Center that is
said to be part of the UP Science and Technology Park. It’s said connection
with science and technology is indeed questionable especially that the land is
mostly occupied by private companies and that UP students are not even
benefitting from it. I think that our government and the UP administration are
doing the opposite of what is supposed to be done – making quality education
accessible for everyone.
That is why, as students, we should not just simply
accept what is being offered to us. For instance, we should not just agree with
the increase they wanted for tuition/laboratory fees. We have to be aware with
what’s going on in our society. We have to fight for our rights and fight for
what really is right.
I just hope that the UP administration will listen to the
voice of Isko and Iska, and that they will promote better use of our lands. And may
our government indeed strengthen us and help us in promoting our academic
missions as the national university for this is what they should really be
doing.
Categories: