Cebu student leaders organize group, hit ASEAN Summit cost

Student leaders in Cebu have organized the Street University, an alliance of youth groups, which soon started commenting over the government's huge fund outlay for the coming ASEAN Summit.

The alliance leader, Karlo Mongaya, also the chairman of the University of the Philippines College-Cebu Student Council, said the alliance would serve as the youth's campaign center or venue for exposing their concerns on regional issues and leaders.

In a press conference yesterday, Mongaya said the Street University is not against the holding of the ASEAN Summit here but would like to express its sentiments over the government's expenses for such an event.

Cebu has been spending about P650 million for the Cebu International Convention Center while the education sector needs 74,115 classrooms, said Mongaya.

The overall budget for the ASEAN, which is P 2.5 billion, could already enroll 166,667 college students for the second semester, he added.

Doyle Belluga, vice chairman for the Visayas of the Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP, also commented that the expensive beautification projects for the summit are "nothing but a waste of peoples' money."

He said that prioritizing a 4-day event over basic social services, education and health only showed the true color of the Arroyo administration.

Money for the summit is released easier than for social services or infrastructures like roads. Even the budget for education and health has remained meager, Belluga said. - Jasmin R. Uy/RAE