Arroyo to education execs: Find ways to avert tuition hikes
By Christine Avendaño
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 19:06:00 05/11/2008
MANILA, Philippines--After food and electricity, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is now looking at ways to hold down the cost of education to help people cope with the rising cost of living.
Presidential Management Staff Secretary Cerge Remonde said on Sunday that President Gloria Macapgal-Arroyo ordered education officials to explore ways to prevent tuition increases in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Remonde said he discussed with Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) chairman Romulo Neri the possibility of controlling tuition increases in SUCs on the instructions of Arroyo on Saturday.
"CHEd chair Neri will hold consultations with SUC officials," Remonde said in a phone interview.
He said the consultations with more than 100 SUCs all over the country would be held immediately.
Private schools have already indicated they will increase tuition this coming school year.
The President, he said, has been genuinely concerned about rising prices of oil, food and electricity.
With food costs rising around the world, the government has been moving to ensure that the country's main staple, rice, would be available and affordable to the people, Remonde said.
It recently unveiled an action plan aimed at stabilizing the supply of rice and distributing government-subsidized rice to the poorest of the poor. The President also ordered a crackdown on rice hoarders.
Remonde said it was within the context of controlling rising costs of basic commodities that President Arroyo ordered energy regulators to investigate the electricity charges of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and try to bring them down.
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