Duterte vetoes bill granting ‘national polytechnic university’ status to PUP

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte vetoed a bill seeking to grant the Polytechnic University of the Philippines a “national polytechnic university” status and fiscal autonomy.

In his veto message — a copy of which was released by Malacañang Saturday — Duterte said there is a need to re-evaluate PUP’s system, including the performance of its satellite campuses and extension programs, and compare it to other state universities and colleges.

Giving PUP fiscal autonomy may also put a strain on the government’s balance sheet, he added.

“A reassessment is all the more needful considering that the enrolled bill provides for the grant of fiscal autonomy to PUP, which departs from the adopted policy of granting only institutional autonomy to SUCs,” Duterte explained.

“The proposed provision on appropriations would also have a significant fiscal impact on the government, which may be avoided only if the PUP budget would continue to be subject to the need for prioritization and the usual budgetary and monitoring processes,” he continued.

Founded in 1904, the PUP is considered the country’s largest state university by student population with over 70,000.

Its main campus is located in Sta. Mesa, Manila. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral