Youth leaders set rally against PGMA's SONA
BACOLOD CITY -- Kabataang Pinoy Ayaw sa Tuition Fee and Other Fee Increase or KAPI-TOPI yesterday urged all militant youth leaders here in Bacolod City and Negros Occidental to stage a protest action on Sunday, July 27, 2008, a day before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will deliver her State of the Nation Address.
Julius Dagatan, spokesman of KAPI-TOPI, said that they will continue to oppose the yearly increase on tuition fee and other school fees and they are calling the government to provide additional subsidy to public schools and state colleges.
He added that the government failed to utilize the Miscellaneous and Other Operating Expense for the construction of classrooms, pavements or building in their school. The group is very apprehensive that later on, they could mobilize all young leaders from various schools to conduct a series of meeting to oppose government policy on education which according to them is very commercialized.
The group is now looking for a venue to raise their sentiments on national issues in which the students' interests are involved. As appeared on their Manifesto, they called for the abolition of the development fee collection which they categorized under miscellaneous and other fees collected from college students in both private and public schools in Negros Occidental.
The group will launch a protest on Monday as President Arroyo delivers her SONA. According to him, students are among the sectors affected by the continued increase in petroleum products and the fare hike.
On the other Hand, Sangguniang Panlungsod Member Greg Gasataya Chairman on the Committee of Education confirms that KAPI-TOFI had asked the city government to mediate between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and different schools to discuss the tuition fee increase and other fees. Gasataya said that this request was already relayed to CHED Regional Office and they are hoping that this agency will appear before SP Regular Session to justify the continued tuition fee hike.