Osmeña challenges schools to adopt ‘pro-poor policies’

CEBU, Philippines — Challenging institutions to adopt pro-poor policies, Cebu City Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña called on schools and hospitals to follow the lead of the University of Cebu in maintaining accessible fees, stressing the need for more inclusive support for marginalized sectors.

Osmeña raised concerns about what he described as a widening gap between the wealthy and marginalized sectors, emphasizing the need for institutions to take a more active role in making essential services accessible.

He cited the University of Cebu as a rare example, crediting its chairman, Augusto W. Go, for maintaining accessible tuition policies despite economic pressures.

“You know that UC is the only one announcing that they will not increase tuition… It is only because of one guy,” Osmeña said. “He is the only one who has a heart for the poor. I challenge all the schools, all the hospitals—none of them will do it.”

Osmeña stressed that access to education and healthcare should not be dictated solely by financial capacity, calling on institutions to adopt more inclusive and socially responsive policies.

The remarks come amid increasing financial strain on Filipino families due to rising fuel and commodity prices. In response, Go earlier announced that the University of Cebu will implement a tuition freeze for School Year 2026–2027, aimed at easing the burden on students and their families.

“People are suffering but they need education, and I am not going to deny them that,” Go said, noting that students who enroll under the current rate will continue to pay the same tuition until they graduate, provided they meet academic requirements.

Go acknowledged that rising fuel costs and basic commodity prices have created a cycle that directly impacts daily expenses and access to education.

“This problem is not going to end this year… it will not end next year,” he said.

Osmeña’s call highlights a broader issue of social inequality, urging both public and private institutions to move beyond profit-driven practices and adopt policies that ensure essential services remain accessible to all. — Jose Luis Flores, CTU Tuburan Intern (FREEMAN)