15,000 PUPians walkout against 2026 budget cut
Every peso stolen is stolen from student education.
By Shannia Cabuello
Bulatlat.com
MANILA – More than 15,000 students, faculty and staff from various campuses and satellite branches of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) united for a system-wide walkout last Oct. 10, condemning the inadequate facilities and equipment and low pay for its employees after the government cut P9.1 billion ($156 million) from the PUP system’s proposed budget.
From the proposed P12.7-billion ($218 million) budget, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved only P3.62 billion ($62 million) for Fiscal Year 2026 in the National Expenditure Program (NEP). This budget will be distributed to the 25 PUP campuses nationwide.
Decentralized programs were conducted in each campus, followed by a snake rally to PUP Obelisk where the main program was held. Despite the heavy rains, protesters composed of students, faculty, staff, mass groups and organizations, some from far areas, extended their demands through placards, speeches, and umbrellas.
Photos by Shannia Cabuello
Competition in educational spaces
Students recognized the urgency of walking out of their classrooms amidst the unexpected rainfall, noting that this was just a short-term inconvenience compared to the lasting effect of the budget cut.
In 2022, PUP President Manuel Muhi announced the beginning of PUP’s largest construction project aimed to improve the North Wing – Main Academic Building. The construction of the main building was expected to be completed by the end of 2024 or beginning of 2025. Until now, it is still under construction, resulting in students conducting classes in a hybrid system or a combination of face-to-face and online set-ups.
College of Social Sciences and Development (CSSD) Student Council President Barbara Duran lamented the difficulty they experienced in holding classes. “We only conduct personal classes once a month. We always need to compete with other blocks and programs just to secure a classroom. It has been our set-up for four years. It really does not grant us quality education.”
Photos by Shannia Cabuello
Duran said that unlike the online set-up, face-to-face classes allow them to have on the ground experiences. “If enough budget was allocated for PUP, the North Wing would have been finished by now, and students would no longer need to settle in limited and unventilated classrooms nor in online classes,” she stated.
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) student Jizelle Casia from PUP Parañaque said there are only eight working computers out of 32 in their computer laboratory. “We can only use those computers using the hotspot of our classmate because the university cannot offer free wifi.”
“This walk-out is vital because education goes beyond the four corners of our classrooms. Theories are taught in our classes, but this is where we learn the reality of every student, which I also experience everyday,” Duran said.
Low pay, no bonuses for faculty and staff
ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio said that every peso stolen is stolen from student education, as evidenced by unfinished buildings, uncomfortable classrooms, inadequate laboratories, low pay for the faculty and staff, and the lack of quality education.
“This budget cut does not only affect PUP Main, but also the other satellite PUP branches,” said PUP Parañaque student Jericho Mercado. For the first time since its foundation in 2011, PUP Parañaque led the students in joining the protest, considering this event as a “crowning achievement.” They amplified their calls for better facilities and equipment, and a liveable wage for faculty and staff.
“Most of our instructors are interns because they cannot pay full-time professors,” said Mercado and Casia. They added that they experienced having “ghost teachers” who did not show up even once in their campus.
Buklod Guro Representative and PUP College of Communication Associate Professor Prestoline Suyat said that many professors only acquire bonuses after five years. Due to the insufficient budget, some of their night pay, bonus, and benefits were removed.
Jun Jorda, president of the PUP Samahan ng Janitorial (SJ), said that janitors do not receive their full 13th month pay. He also criticized the minimum wage of P695 ($11.92) that they receive as it is not enough.
“Give us the P1200 ($205.74) nationwide daily minimum wage. Our salary is not enough for the high prices of goods,” Jorda said.
Gabriela Women’s Party Representative Sarah Elago said that the 12% value added tax is a big loss for Filipinos, especially minimum wage earners. “Great future should not be deprived to Iskolar ng Bayan and youth,” she added.
Suyat said that Filipinos must unite to hold all responsible (to the corruption) accountable. “Resignation of public officials behind corruption practices is not enough. We must also not allow them to just replace politicians in offices. The system must be changed and all corrupts must be detained,” he added.
“Education is a right. Until it is not free and accessible for all, our right is not fulfilled,” Duran asserted.
PUP students burned and destroyed an effigy of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a symbol of defiance against corruption. (AMU, DAA)
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