Protests greet opening of classes in Iloilo

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Militant youth groups in Iloilo on Monday met the opening of classes with protest actions against tuition and other school fee increases.

Around 50 student leaders and members of Anakbayan, League of Filipino Students and National Union of Students of the Philippines held a picket in front of the regional office of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) around noon to decry the increase in school fees.

The groups called on the CHEd and government to stop the collection of “dubious” miscellaneous fees that are not subjected to consultation.

Around 50 students of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas also held a picket at the university’s campus in this city.

The students claimed that despite being a state university, UP has imposed a 65 percent increase in tuition through adjustments in the school’s socialized tuition brackets.