UP students, teachers stage walkout vs new policies

CEBU, Philippines - More than 300 students and faculty members of the University of the Philippines Cebu walked out of their classes yesterday to oppose what they termed as “neoliberal attacks” on education and called for the junking of the different policies which they dubbed as “anti-student.”

Spearheaded by the Rise for Education Alliance - UP Cebu, Anakbayan UP Cebu, the Nagkahiusang Kusog sa Estudyante, and the UP Cebu Student Council, 11 other organizations including the All UP Academic Employees’ Union staged the protest as part of a UP system-wide campaign to stop the neoliberal attacks on education.

The students, during the rally, raised different issues affecting the whole UP Cebu community.

They said that aside from the “skyrocketing” tuition that bars students from entering UP in spite of the existence of the Socialized Tuition System, various other school fees such as miscellaneous fees, laboratory fees, and the rental fees have also reportedly burdened them.

“Ang nahitabo karon daghan na kaayo mi og bayranan. For example, mogamit mi og venue for non-academic events kay pabayron mi sa kuryente for using the aircon,” said Myles Cantal Albasin, chairman of Anakbayan UP Cebu and a fourth year BA Mass Communications student.

Their call to junk the different fees came with their demand to hold Acting Chancellor Liza D. Corro and her administration accountable for implementing these policies and fees.

“Not only did they railroad the implementation of these policies, but they did so even without any explanation to the students to whom they are mandated to serve,” the Rise for Education Alliance said in a statement.

The different organizations and members of the faculty manifested their outrage through speeches and even performances in a program.

Ligaya Rabago, a performer of the arts and the adviser of UP Cebu’s oldest performing arts group, posed the question, “Ganahan man kaha ta mo-embrace sa public? Naunsa naman ta karon?” She explained that because of the aforementioned fees, UP is already losing its public character.

The program ended with a flash mob where SAYAW-E, the official UP Cebu dance organization, led the crowd dance to the tune of “Bang! Parang holdup lang ‘yan.” (FREEMAN)