The current budget cuts for education, particularly the allocation for the University of the Philippines, is antidevelopmental. As reported a few months ago by the US magazine Time, the single reason for the spectacular development and progress of China and India is the liberal and massive budget allocations for the state universities in these countries. Apart from the staggering subsidies to their state universities, China and India also embarked on highly financed scholarships by sending thousands of their bright students to US universities, not only for bachelor’s degrees but also post-graduate studies in science and technology. No wonder, China and India are now the envy of the world in terms of progress and quality of life.
It is thus surprising that the Aquino administration is going against the global trend of massive subsidy for education. And it is further surprising that despite the predominance of UP alumni in the Senate, the premier state university has to suffer severe budget cuts. It behooves the following UP alumni to take up the cudgels for their beloved UP: Franklin Drilon, Edgardo Angara, Juan Ponce Enrile, Chiz Escudero, Miriam Defensor-Santiago, Koko Pimentel, Manny Villar, Loren Legarda, Jingoy Estrada and Kiko Pangilinan.
—EDWARD B. CONTRERAS,
St. Francis Part,
Tanque, Roxas City