200 UPLB students stage walkout, hit admin’s inaction on key issues

Around 200 University of the Philippines – Los Banos (UPLB) students walked out of their afternoon classes Friday to protest the university’s supposed inaction on their concerns, including the appeal of some 500 students who failed to enroll on time due to financial difficulties and tight university policies on late registration. Contributed photo

SAN PEDRO CITY – Some 200 students walked out of their afternoon classes at the University of the Philippines – Los Baños (UPLB) Friday to protest the university’s alleged inaction on their concerns, including stringent policies on late registration and the  ‘”red-tagging” of progressive student organizations.

“These students attend and still want to attend their classes,” said Jainno Bongon, spokesperson of the Samahan ng Kabataan para sa Bayan.

Bongon said UPLB failed to acknowledge factors such as the students’ financial constraints, for failing to enroll on time.

He also pointed out that not everyone was covered by the government’s free college tuition law, particularly those who are not regular students.

Bongon said the walkout was staged so that they can have a dialogue with university officials, but no one entertained them as of 4 p.m.

The students also raised the alleged “red tagging” of progressive students organizations during a forum on the National Service Training Program last Monday.

Dr. Portia Lapitan, UPLB Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, earlier said the presence of Philippine Army personnel was not meant to “red tag” or “militarize” the campus.

“There’s no truth to that,” Lapitan earlier told the Inquirer. / gsg