14 schools in Region 7 want hikes in tuition

CEBU CITY — Fourteen colleges and universities in Central Visayas, 10 of which are in Cebu, have filed their applications to increase tuition this coming school year.

The 10 Cebu colleges are the University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of San Carlos, Systems Technology Institute, AMA Computer College, Velez College, Cebu Roosevelt Memorial Colleges, Cebu Institute of Technology, College of Technological Sciences, Toledo Gullas College and the Danao Gullas College.

With these applications, the Commission on Higher Education said it is expecting protest rallies by the studentry.

Josefino Ronquillo, CHED tuition coordinator, said he also expects more schools to file their notices of intent to raise tuition. They still have two months to file their applications.

The other Central Visayas schools which applied for tuition hikes are the Divine World College and Philippine Maritime Institute in Tagbilaran City, and the Diaz College and St. Paul College in Dumaguete City.

Meanwhile, Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas has urged the next Congress to consider the passage of a bill that would allow parents to deduct from their gross annual taxable income at least 50 percent of the amount they pay for their children’s tui-tion.

The CHED earlier bared that at least 106 colleges and universities in Metro Manila alone are poised to increase their tuition by an average of 13 percent. — Freeman News Service