A number of students expressed their dismay over the second Tuition and Other Fees Increase consultation held last Feb. 6 at the Conference Room D of Ricci Hall.
During the consultation, which was attended only by the University Treasurer Jimmy Delgado and his assistant, students raised inquiries about the allocation of the budget, including the increase in the teachers’ salaries, medical expenses, club allocations, among others.
“Our main goal is to control the budget, the offices work within the budget and they cannot spend beyond,” Delgado explained when asked about how the Finance office controls the expenses of the student clubs.
Students expressed their disappointment when they left the conference room as they were told that the consultation was only an informal one. Several students felt that it was a mere “presentation” rather than a genuine consultation.
“Sabi nila consultation ‘yun pero it was a bogus consultation. Sa kanila pa mismo nanggaling na kahit pa anong gawin na paglaban ng mga Atenista sa pagtaas ng tuition and other school fees ay wala na silang magagawa,” BUKLAT Pres. Megue Zea Monteverde exclaimed.
“It seems as though there was a lack of preparation when the consultation started. It started late and there were inaccuracies in some of the answers. An example of this is when it was cited that the SAMAHAN fee was 100 pesos instead of 80 pesos. There were also vague answers, that really didn’t satisfy some of my questions.” third year Finance student Amelita Carpio stated.
The discussion was conducted in response to the constant clamor of students for another TOFI consultation, following the first consultation held last January 21 that was criticized by the studentry since only five students were allowed during the initial consultation.
February is the month when universities and colleges will submit their TOFI proposals to the Commission on Higher Education.
Jimmy Delgado, the university treasurer, responding to the TOFI-related questions asked by the students. Photo by Hannah Lou Balladares