Senator Pia Cayetano has criticized the University of the Philippines (UP) and four other state universities and colleges (SUCs) for not fully resuming face-to-face classes even though the Covid-19 protocols have already been relaxed.
During a Senate finance sub-committee hearing on the budgets of SUCs, Cayetano warned UP and the four other SUCs, namely, Cagayan State University, Northern Iloilo State University, South Cotabato State College, and Mindanao State University (MSU) to come up with legitimate reasons why they have yet to conduct in-person classes.
In the case of UP, UP President Danilo Concepcion said UP has not resumed full face-to-face classes because of the Quezon City government’s COVID-19 restrictions.
But when Cayetano inquired about the matter with QC Mayor Joy Belmonte through a lengthy text message, the senator said there is no truth about such policy, prompting Concepcion to promise that he will ask the mayor about it.
While she is “open” to “changes and innovations” in education, she warned UP to conduct in-person classes to secure their budget for next year.
“You want budget? Show me you’re making an effort to do the most basic — allow the students to have face-to-face classes. Show me you are making that effort. Because otherwise, I’ll focus my efforts where it is most appreciated," Cayetano, chair of the Senate finance sub-panel, told the SUCs in question.
“I am very open to changes and innovations in the way we teach, in the way we educate, but we should not make COVID the reason, which is still the excuse being given when I see this 75 percent capacity or 50 percent capacity (classroom limitation),” she said.
The panel suspended the hearing on UP’s 2023 proposed budget of P21.8-billion, state universities and colleges (SUCs) of P93.3-billion, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) of P30.7-billion, and the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) of P577-million.