Thousands of students march to Senate
Thousands of students from various state universities and colleges (SUCs) marched to the Senate in protest against the billion-peso budget cut on SUCs, Wednesday, December 1, 2010.
In a statement released by the Student Alliance of Democratic Rights in the University of the Philippines (Stand UP), asked the senators to reject the budget cuts. They also challenged the Aquino administration to spend on social services such as education. This is not just a mere haggling on the SUCs’ funds but “a battle to determine the fate of the education sector,“ the students said.
Among the schools that will suffer from budget cuts are the following: University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University, Aurora State College of Technology, Cerilles State College, and the University of Southeastern Philippines.
Senators back opposition vs budget cuts
Three senators, Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Francis Pangilinan and Juan Miguel Zubiri, express their support for the State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in their struggle to oppose the education budget cut.
The senators said education is a tool to make the youth productive members of the society thus the government should invest on their future. Decreasing the budget will only increase the dropout rate due to tuition hikes ensuing from inadequate funds of SUCs.
Two senators, however, disagreed. Senate Majorty Floor Leader Vicente Sotto and Senate finance committee chair Sen. Franklin Drilon called on the students to stop staging demonstrations since there are no cuts to begin with. The rumored cuts are nothing but ghosts, they said.
Opposition senators question 2011 budget
The P1.645-trillion 2011 national budget may have been approved in the Upper House but opposition senators called the budget proposal as a “stagnation budget” that is wanting of public services funding.
Senator Pia Cayetano said the proposed budget lacks allocations for vital social services like tertiary education, hospitals and agricultural assistance and major infrastructures. Cayetano voted against the budget during the third reading together with her brother, Sen. Allan Peter Cayetano.
The lady senator also expressed caution against the controversial conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Although subsidies for the poor should be supported, she said the CCT with huge amounts of money cannot be managed by five-month old administration.
Sen. Joker Arroyo agreed with the Cayetanos.
Social welfare secretary bends to House probe
After refuing to appear in the House investigation of the P10-billion zero coupon Poverty Eradication and Alleviation Certificate (PEACe) bonds, Social Welfare head Corazon 'Dinky' Soliman said she will cooperate with the House of Representatives.
Earlier, the House minority bloc warned Soliman she will be subpoenaed to force her to attend the investigation.
Zambales Rep. Maria Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay (Lakas-Kampi-Christian Muslim Democrats) asked Soliman explain herself absence before the House panel especially now that her husband's name was found to be involved in the controversy.
House OKs amnesty grant
Amid dissenting opinions of some legislators, the House of Representatives committee on justice and national defense approved the amended version of the presidential proclamation amnesty grant to rebel soldiers involved in the three coups against the Arroyo administration.
of the opposing congressmen, Muntinlupa Rep. Rodolfo Biazon, raised the issue that the mutineers should admit their guilt first before granting amnesty. Biazon, a former senator, was outnumbered by the representatives coming from the Liberal Party.
Opposition rep sees eye to eye with Aquino on RH Bill
House Minority Leader and known opposition ally, Rep. Edcel Lagman expressed support to President Benigno S. Aquino III’s his stand on Reproductive Health (RH) Bill despite the warnings and pressure from the Catholic Church hierarchy.
The Albay representative commended Aquino for choosing the “daang matuwid” regarding the issue. He said it will help the Filipinos in the countryside by exercising the freedom of informed choice.
Jinggoy Estrada bashes House on “kasambahay bill”
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada bashed the lower House for ignoring the “kasambahay” (househelp) bill which he authored to ensure a decent employment terms for house helps.
“Insofar as the Senate is concerned, I hope and pray that we pass the bill before the Christmas break. But as far as the House (of Representatives) is concerned, I think it is sleeping on the job. They (House members) have yet to come up with a counterpart bill. I think someone is trying to block this bill at the lower house. I have to talk to my counterpart there, the chairman of the committee on labor Rep. Emil Ong,” the senator said.
References:
- Baldo, Gerry. (2010). House panels approve amnesty to mutineers. Retrieved December 3, 2010 from http://www.tribuneonline.org/20101202/headlines/20101202hed4.html
- Manalo, Charlie V. (2010). Opposition solon gives full backing to Aquino on RH Bill. Retrieved December 3, 2010 on http://www.tribuneonline.org/20101202/nation/20101202nat5.html
- Tan, Kimberly Jane T. (2010). Senators to students: Stop protesting vs 'ghost' budget cuts. Retrieved December 3, 2010 http://www.gmanews.tv/story/206941/senators-to-students-stop-protesting-vs-ghost-budget-cuts
- ___. (2010). Jinggoy raps House inaction on ‘Kasambahay’ bill. Retrieved December 3, 2010 from http://www.tribuneonline.org/20101202/headlines/20101202hed6.html
- Rosales, Angie M. (2010). Appropriations Act of 2011 labeled as ‘stagnation budget’. Retrieved December 3, 2010 from http://www.tribuneonline.org/20101203/headlines/20101203hed4.html
- de la Cruz, Aytch. (2010). Dinky to appear in House hearing on PEACe bonds. Retrieved December 3, 2010 from http://www.tribuneonline.org/20101130/nation/20101130nat2.html
- Tan, Kim. (2010). Students storm Senate anew over SUC budget. Retrieved December 3, 2010 from http://www.gmanews.tv/story/207299/students-storm-senate-anew-over-suc-budget