Ecozones in state campuses loom as fund wells

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ—Stung by big cuts in their 2010 and 2011 budgets, the country’s state universities and colleges (SUCs) are now prepared to venture into revenue-generation by using their lands as economic zones.

Officials of 110 SUCs completed orientation briefings on how to make their assets and resources profitable at a Sept. 7-9 forum given by managers of foundations, corporations and business organizations.

Dr. Ruben Sevilleja, president of the Central Luzon State University, said SUC officials grouped themselves into four clusters and conducted separate forums in different places and on different dates.

“The forums opened our minds to the opportunities awaiting us to earn for our schools if we partner with the private sector,” Sevilleja said.

He said SUCs could ask the Philippine Economic Zone Authority to declare their lands as economic zones and invite investors.

The forum was attended by top officials of 28 state schools. Some were held at Cavite State University, Aklan State College and Mindanao State University for Science and Technology.

The forum drew managers from Ayala Foundation Inc.,  Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Land Bank of the Philippines, the business process outsourcing sector and representatives of state universities and colleges which are already carrying out successful income-generating projects.

Sevilleja said MAP proposed to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) the creation of education economic zones.

Amenable to the idea, CHEd convinced the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (Pasuc) to participate and provide funding for these business orientation forums.

“We are now looking into technology commercialization [by] putting up incubator projects [and] business process outsourcing… as very viable revenue-making ventures,” Sevilleja said.

Benny Palma, president of Carlos Hilado Memorial State College in Talisay City, said SUC presidents are encouraged by the potential revenues of education economic zones.

“Our SUCs were hobbled by the huge budget cut last year,” said Palma, who is also overall coordinator of the CHEd-Pasuc education economic zone project.

“SUC presidents are very desirous to find ways… to augment their income. This education economic zone project is a very welcome project for them,” he said.

In 2011, the aggregate budget of all SUCs was P23.4 billion (1.7-percent lower than the 2010 budget). SUCs asked for P45 billion for next year but the final budget that was submitted to Congress was not even half, P21.89 billion.