BIÑAN, Laguna, Philippines?Lakas-Kampi vice presidential candidate Edu Manzano has expressed concern that the call center industry is pulling young people away from higher learning or professional disciplines needed in building a strong country.

He called for the "revisiting" of the education system in the Philippines when he spoke before hundreds of students and faculty members in a visit here, Wednesday.

?To be globally competitive, what is being looked at today is having PhDs (and the) mechanisms where students are active (and) vying for higher learning,? Manzano said in a mix of English and Filipino during a forum held at the University of the Perpetual Help System here.

He came with presidential candidate Gilbert ?Gibo? Teodoro and visited the town of San Pedro and the cities of Biñan and Sta. Rosa.

?(But) There?s a problem. ?Wag ho sanang magagalit yung iba sa ?tin dito, pero maraming first year college tapos umaalis. Call center! Ang starting sa call center P16,000; dalawa sa pamilya P32,000; maginhawa na ang buhay ng pamilyang iyon (But there?s a problem, I hope I?m not offending some of you, but a lot of first year college students drop out of school to work in a call center. The starting salary in a call center is P16,000. Two in the family, that would be P32,000. That already makes a good living).

Manzano, who said he conducted his ?personal study? of the call centers, said call center workers accounted for the highest number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases, drug abuse, alcoholism, problems in the family and low self-esteem.

Call centers and the business process outsourcing industry were among the economic legacies President Macapagal-Arroyo boasted in her legacy tours across the nation.

?These are social causes. We can?t have that kind of citizenry (but) we need educated citizenry if we plan to move forward,? Manzano said.

?There is nothing wrong with the system, but the status (in the) system,? he replied to a question on possibly initiating changes in the education curriculum.

He said the Philippine government has been spending only $134 per student per year, while countries such as Singapore and Japan have been spending $1,800 and $5,000, respectively, for each of their students.

Manzano promised more tuition loans, scholarships and grants to the students.

?At the same time, let us not forget that teachers have the greatest multiplier effect?Youth is the hope of the nation but who hones their beliefs and attributes?? he said, drawing applause from the audience.

Manzano said teachers should be given salary increases and the opportunities to achieve higher learning.

He remembered a former teacher in Concepcion, Iloilo, whom he said had to live with his family in their home.

?That was why I never flunked. Otherwise, she?d have nothing to eat,? the actor-host quipped.

He said the standard retiring age of 65 that was set in 1910 should also be adjusted, saying given today?s technology ?there is much a 65-year-old can do that will benefit the country as a whole.?

?There are certain laws that need to be revisited, depending on the circumstance,? he added.