4 MIN READ

By JANCELLE ILANO & WROANA MISA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY—The University of the Philippines-Baguio (UP Baguio) community is intensifying its campaign to secure the full budget proposed by the system to support the university’s needs, particularly with several infrastructure projects still pending completion and insufficient support for students and staff.

Despite the ₱2 billion increase in the UP system’s budget during the last State University and Colleges (SUCs) budget hearing, John Karlo Ancheta, the UP Baguio University Student Council (USC) chairperson, says it is still not enough. 

He said, “(N)agpropose tayo meaning ito ‘yung kailangan natin, and in turn ay ito ‘yung ibigay rin sa atin ng gobyerno.” 

(We proposed it, which means it is what we need, and in turn, the government should give it to us.) 

For UP Baguio, the current budget allotment for personnel services, Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), and Equipment Outlay is ₱436.84 million. The institution requested an additional ₱193.76 million for personnel services and MOOE. There was no request made for the capital outlay budget in 2026. 

Next year, the UP System is expected to face a ₱21 billion budget deficit, a 45% shortfall from the ₱46.85 billion proposed budget. However, the Department of Budget and Management submitted only ₱25.8 billion to the House of Representatives under the 2026 National Expenditure Program. 

In 2025, the UP system faced a ₱2.08 billion budget cut, the largest deficit in nearly a decade. This affected around 90% of funding for capital outlays throughout the entire UP. 

Capital outlay refers to long-term investments in physical assets, such as classrooms, laboratories, and other facilities for students and the university. 

“‘(Y)ung usapin natin sa capital outlay…,  masosolusyonan nito ‘yung kakulangan sa classrooms, even ‘yung mga sira-sirang facilities, pwede niyang matugunan ‘yan.”

(Our discussion on capital outlay can help address the shortage of classrooms and even cover the repair of damaged facilities.)

State universities, such as UP, fall under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which means students are exempt from tuition and other school fees.

Unfinished projects, lacking services

The USC chair also emphasized that with the allocated budget, focus can be placed on the 10-year overdue construction of Bulwagang Juan Luna and the Interconnectivity Bridge. If provided in full, this could also address issues arising from increasing enrollments, such as limited student spaces, insufficient funding for student financial aid, and staff shortages.

A survey conducted by the Alliance of Concerned Students (ACS) revealed that eight out of ten students are frustrated with the lack of student spaces. This initiative was launched as part of the Safe Spaces Caravan Campaign, which urged the utilization of unused university spaces and the allocation of funds to meet students’ genuine needs.

“‘(Y)ung isyu ng kakulangan sa university psychiatrist. Dahil mababa ‘yung sweldo, kaya wala tayong naha-hire up to this point. Tapos ‘yung pag-support sa mga students [financially], sa mga sinasalihan nila(ng) [competitions],” Ancheta added.

(The issue of lacking a university psychiatrist is also a concern. Because the salary is low, we haven’t been able to hire one up to this point. There’s also the matter of supporting students financially, especially in the competitions they join.)

Students blame budget cuts for the lack of equipment and facilities, which is why many iskolar ng bayan, such as Jaszcha Andrada, a 4th-year Biology student from UPB, have to deal with barely usable, decades-old equipment in the College of Sciences (CS). 

“Noong mga second year, [manghihiram] kami ng microscope, syempre sa dami ng mga klase tapos sa dami rin ng mga estudyante, kapag hindi ka nauna ro’n, bulok-bulok na ‘yung makukuha mo,” she recalled.

Their laboratory classes have mostly been theoretical instead of practical, due to the scarcity of resources, she added. 

However, due to UP Baguio’s budget constraints, students, like Andrada, shoulder the expenses ranging from ₱500 – ₱3,000 for their fieldwork and other activities required for their course. Their payment to the coordinator depends on the location and the number of days, including their accommodation and travel costs. 

Faculty, staff affected

The budget shortage in UPB not only impacts students but also affects university employees, faculty, and staff.

“As it stands, the proposed UP budget is already deficient in addressing key issues such as lack of plantilla items, worsening contractualization, and insufficient funds for Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE).” expressed by Wilfredo V. Alangui, Professor of Mathematics and President of the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) – Baguio chapter. 

Plantilla items are permanent government positions with budget allocations, while MOOE are funds allocated to support the daily operations of government offices, including public education institutions.

“If we get sufficient plantilla items with high salary grades, and this will need budget allocation, then our personnel will have security of tenure and better salaries,” Alangui added. 

He also stressed that almost all employees receive below the Salary Grade (SG) of 16, and some huddle around SG 6-10, or even SG 3. These range from ₱15,000 – ₱47,000. 

“The billions lost to corruption could have already fixed this long-standing problem of wages and other welfare-related issues. Kaya ang panawagan lagi ay seguridad sa trabaho at nakabubuhay na sahod para sa mga manggagawa sa edukasyon, kasama na dito ang UP.” he emphasized. 

Currently, the UPB-USC and AUPAEU stand together in demanding accountability, transparency, and prioritization of educational funds from the government. 

“We cannot stay silent on this issue; otherwise the UP administration and the government would think that we are content with what they are giving us.” Alangui pointed. 

The slashed education funds amid massive corruption in government infrastructure projects became the central theme during the September 17 walk-out led by the University Student Council (USC), which the UP Baguio administration supported.

Actions demanding higher state subsidies continued on September 25, during the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations hearing on the proposed SUC budgets. The USC said they will sustain pressure in the coming days.

An email was sent to the Chancellor’s office for comment. We will update the report once we receive a response #nordis.net