Lawmakers from Mindanao have called on the leadership of the House of Representatives, as well as the executive department, to fund the operations of state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman said Tuesday, Sept. 28, that SUCs have "zero fund allocations" in the P5.024-trillion proposed 2022 national budget.

On Monday, the Basilan representative, along with Anak Mindanao Rep. Amihilda Sangcopan, filed House Resolution No. 2251 asking House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and members of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) to provide funding for four BARMM SUCs.

These are the Adiong Memorial Polytechnic State College, Cotabato State University, Sulu State College, and the Tawi-Tawi Regional Agricultural College.

“These SUCs which have existed before creation of BARMM, and their charters provide that their funding requirements shall be provided by the national government,” the resolution read.

“This outright removal of funding by the national government will seriously threaten, not only the operation, but the very existence of these state colleges and universities in the BARMM. This non-provision of funding to these SUCs will displace thousands of students, teachers and personnel in these institutions of higher learning,” they pointed out.

They noted a provision of the Republic Act No. 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which states that: "Any school, college or university existing in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region as of the effectivity of this Organic Law, and such other schools and institutions that may be established hereinafter shall be deemed integral components of the educational system of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region".

This, they said, should not be construed that budget for these SUCs should be funded by the autonomous regional government, and doing so would be “a deviation to the letter and spirit" of the law.

The Constitution also mandates the state to protect and promote the right of citizens to quality education, they further stressed.

Hataman and Sangcopan reiterated the appeal in a joint letter to Velasco, through House appropriations panel chair Rep. Eric Yap, and higher and technical education committee chair Rep. Mark Go.

“Please provide funding for these SUCs within BARMM for Fiscal Year 2022 by urging the DBCC and the House Committee on Appropriation to provide funding to the aforementioned SUCs,” Hataman and Sangcopan said.

“We, along with the thousands of students, teachers and SUC officers and personnel, are hoping for your affirmative and immediate action on this matter," they appealed.