THE Visayas will get the lowest allocation for its state-funded schools and universities, lower than those allotted for the University of the Philippines (UP), which has five campuses all over the country, including one in the region.
All 26 state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Visayas will only receive P3.8 billion out of the total P23.6-billion allotted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The amount is lower than the nearly P6 billion for the University of the Philippines System (UP) which has campuses in Manila, Quezon City, Baguio, Visayas, and Mindanao. The UP’s student population is around 50,000, according to its website.
Central Visayas which is home to five SUCs will receive only P701.6 million with Cebu Technological University (Cebu State College of Science and Technology) getting the highest of P266.2 million, as indicated in the DBM’s National Expenditure Program submitted to Congress.
Negros Oriental State University (Central Visayas Polytechnic College) will get P171.9 million, Bohol Island State University (Central Visayas State College of Agriculture, Forestry and Technology) will receive P129 million, Cebu Normal University, P102.9 million; and Siquijor State College, P31.5 million.
Western Visayas will get P1.6 billion for its 11 schools while Eastern Visayas will get P1.5 billion for 10 schools.
In Luzon, appropriation per region is as follows: National Capital Region, P7.9 billion; Cordillera Administrative Region, P628.3 million; Cagayan Valley, P997.5 million; Central Luzon, P1.6 billion; Calabarzon, P989 million; Mimaropa, P625.7 million; and Bicol Region, P1.2 billion.
Adiong Memorial Polytechnic State College located in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) will receive the lowest appropriation of P16.2 million. The DBM has proposed P2 billion for the six schools in Armm.
Other regions in Mindanao will get the following: Zamboanga Peninsula, P616.5 million; Northern Mindanao, P957 million; Davao Region, P304.7 million; Soccsksargen, P504.3 million; and Caraga, P302 million.
Kabataan Representative Raymond “Mong” Palatino earlier said that the proposed 2012 budget for SUCs has reduced maintenance and other operating expenses of 45 SUCs by P250.9 million.
The same proposed budget has reduced personal services of 58 SUCs by P403.3 million.
The Aquino administration has appropriated zero allocation for capital outlay since 2011, indicating that no funds have been set aside for the acquisition of equipment.
In the budget briefings held by the House committee on appropriations, several legislators have urged leaders of government agencies to realign a portion of their budget for state colleges.
The 2012 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is set for plenary sponsorship when Congress resumes session in September after its long weekend break.
“We are done with committee hearings. We passed the committee report last Friday. We will sponsor the general appropriations bill in the plenary on September 6. We are right on schedule,” appropriations committee chair Joseph Emilio Abaya said. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)
