State colleges, universities ordered to freeze tuition rates

President Arroyo has ordered an indefinite suspension on tuition increases and other charges for all state universities and colleges, Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye disclosed yesterday.

In a press briefing, Bunye said suspending increases in tuition, as well as freezing MRT and LRT fare hikes, is part of the government’s effort to help the public cope with the rising cost of living.

MRT and LRT officials had earlier sought a P10 fare hike for the upkeep of Metro Manila’s elevated commuter railways. But the Palace thumbed down the request.

"As far as state universities and colleges are concerned, in the meantime there will be no increase in tuition," Bunye said. "As to private institutions the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) have rules governing the increase in various school fees and other charges."

Earlier, the CHED put a cap on tuition hikes allowed by private universities and colleges.

Bunye said the government is also working on keeping the prices of school supplies down as it pushes for reasonable wage increases for workers before the regional tripartite wage and productivity boards.

"We welcome all proposals of socio-economic relief and they will be studied closely by the administration," Bunye said. "But we need to balance the need to alleviate the plight of the ordinary Filipino and the need to keep our fiscal house in order."

Trade Secretary Juan Santos said there would be no price increase in school supplies, particularly pencils, crayons, ballpoint pens, writing pads and notebooks when school reopens in June.

In his report to Mrs. Arroyo, Santos said manufacturers of school supplies had promised to hold off price increases.

"Prices will remain in effect as long as there is no major change in the cost of manufacturing components of schools supplies," he stated in his report.

Santos had met with school suppliers, distributors and retailers, who included Victor Cue, president of the Philippine School Pads and Notebooks Manufacturers Associations; Francis Chua, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.; Eddie Chua, president of the Philippine Stationers Associations; and Erlinda Lahaylahay of National Book Store.

Amalgamated Specialties Corp. chief financial officer Edmundo Centeno promised to freeze his company’s prices. Amalgamated Specialties is the market leader in sales of pencils, pens and crayons.

Santos said the prices of school supplies vary according to product type and brand. Students can select from ordinary to special types of notebooks and notepads at the same prices, he said.

Meanwhile, a congresswoman urged the CHED yesterday to check into not only excessive tuition increases but also unwarranted increases in various fees charged by schools.

Rep. Liza Maza, of party-list group Gabriela Women’s Party, said in many cases the increase in the fees was higher compared to the hikes in tuition. Since schools cannot hike tuition more than what is allowed by the government, he said, they make up for it by charging various fees instead.

"It is bad enough that over 200 educational institutions have reported an average 10-percent increase in their tuition fees for this school year. The miscellaneous fees should not be an additional burden that students and their parents would have to contend with," Maza said.

Schools’ miscellaneous fees went up by 140 percent last year, she added, citing CHED data.

"These fees have remained unchecked. Some parents and students have even complained of being charged for facilities that they do not use. Several educational institutions have been making huge profits at the expense of the youth."

Another party-list representative, Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna, criticized the CHED’s memorandum no. 14, which gives colleges blanket authority to raise tuition by no more than 8.5 percent.

While there is supposed to be a cap on tuition increases, the CHED allows larger hikes for schools that consult first with students and their parents.

"But these consultations are for mere information purposes only. All these years we have yet to hear of CHED barring a school from raising tuition due to a lack of consultation. In other words, by virtue of the order, the CHED has given schools the go-signal to commit highway robbery on students and parents," he said.

The former student activist proposed a moratorium on tuition hikes. "Now more than ever, as the economic crunch unleashes more hardships on the people, the government should use all its powers to prevent any increases in school fees."

Meanwhile, the CHED is still reviewing the applications of six schools renewing their permits that will allow them to offer nursing courses.

The six were among 23 schools that underwent scrutiny for alleged failure to meet government requirements for offering nursing courses.

The six were Softnet College in Balanga, Bataan; Saint Anthony College of Science and Technology in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro; Asian College of Technology, BMC College and STI College, all in Cebu City; and Valdez Mother and Child City College in Tacurong, Cotabato City.

The 23 were earlier given temporary permits by the CHED last year and were ordered to comply with the requirements in order for them to be issued permits. Seventeen of them were later granted permits.

Schools offering nursing courses are required to have at least four faculty members with nursing degrees, laboratory classrooms and 100-bed "base" hospitals for on-the-job training.

CHED acting chairman Dr. Carlito Puno said the six schools were not immediately given permits because they did not have base hospitals. — With Jess Diaz, Sandy Araneta