𝐏𝐔𝐏 @ 𝟏𝟐𝟏: 𝐈𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧

With more than 97,000 students systemwide, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is the country’s largest state university by student population, yet it remains underfunded and continues to face possibilities of commercialization and privatization.   

Founded in October 1904—PUP is celebrating its 121st anniversary this year with the theme “PUP@121: Inspiring, Uplifting, Transforming.” 

But how can a school inspire, uplift, and transform the lives of its students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel with an insufficient budget? 

Budget cut and the quality of education 

Out of the P12.6 billion requested budget of PUP for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026, only P3.6 billion has been approved by the House of Representatives (HoR). Same as the previous years, this P9 billion budget cut is expected to affect the quality of education in the university.   

Tracy Althea Ramos, the incumbent president of PUP College of Communication Student Council (COC SC), said that the budget cut is a clear manifestation of the government's misprioritization of the education sector that affects everyone in the university.   

According to Ramos, during the second semester last academic year, there were around 2,700 students in her college with only 14 classrooms being utilized. In every class, there are 50-60 students who share one classroom with only two to three electric fans in use. 

The insufficient budget also leads to low and delayed salaries of teaching and non-teaching personnel, and it affects their quality of work, the council president added.   

These challenges that arose from the lack of budget are the reason why PUP still heavily relies on a hybrid mode of learning and is not able to implement full in-person classes, which is not conducive to all the students and teachers. 

The two sides of NPU status

July this year, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoed the National Polytechnic University (NPU) Bill that aims to give PUP financial autonomy through the amendment of its charter. 

According to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro, the president dismissed the bill due to PUP’s non-compliance. 

Still, the bill can be passed into law if the university admin continues to push for it in the succeeding years. 

To some PUPians, this decision dims the university’s future. Critics see it as another sign of the government’s neglect of its duty to fund education, relying instead on commercialization and privatization. However, others recognize the bill’s potential to solidify PUP’s leadership in polytechnic education, expand its operational flexibility, among others. 

Nevertheless, the Sintang Paaralan remains a home for students from economically challenged backgrounds, offering free tuition and essential services. 

But like a bulb that must endure pressure before it shines, will the Iskolars ng Bayan still feel at home if the university continues to face deep-rooted struggles? 

Is there a brighter future for Sintang Paaralan? 

On October 10, PUP community staged a system-wide walkout where an estimated 15,000 students and staff fought against the widespread corruption of the government and the insufficient budget for the university.   

“…mula doon masasabi natin na may brighter future ang PUP dahil may mga Iskolar ng Bayan na pinaninindigan ‘yung kanilang pagiging Tanglaw ng Bayan,” Ramos, who is also one of the leaders during the walkout, told The Communicator. 

(From there, we can say that PUP has a brighter future because there are scholars of the nation who upheld their role as light of the nation). 

The walkout was just the start, and there will only be a brighter future for Sintang Paaralan when there is enough funding. 

Article: Rolan Muyot

Graphics: Queen Mharifher Aranaz