President Aquino and his budget chief, Secretary Butch Abad, recently announced plans to increase the budget allocations for public colleges. Although the announcement sounds all nice and well, the increase should not be seen as a solution to the problem of students having trouble paying their tuition.
In his last State of the Nation Address, President Aquino bragged about how much he has allotted for Philippine education but, apparently—especially after the suicide of a UP student due to tuition woes—the lack of government support for public education is back as a hot-button issue among students and in the education circle.
In times of crisis, President Aquino appears to panic and goes for the quick-fix approach. He ignores problems but brags about doing a great job, and when problem strikes, he reacts by introducing temporary solutions only. The announcement of an increased budget for public colleges is another one of those temporary remedies. President Aquino puts money into this without any definite plan or direction, or clear-cut strategy of support for the students. There are no detailed scholarship programs in place, like a “study now and pay later” facility. Money that is supposed to fix already existing problems is just floating around. Indeed, money can help solve problems, but money all by itself cannot be the only solution. Money is an inanimate object.
What the Philippines needs and, in particular, what struggling college students need, is a president who genuinely cares for their wellbeing and who will be hands-on in the formulation of tangible solutions that directly benefit students. Preferably, that president should be Mr. Aquino. After all, he will remain in Malacañang in the next three years.
—KYLE ORTEGA
kylexyortega@yahoo.com