‘Focus on your studies,’ Palace tells protesting students

MANILA, Philippiines — Malacanang on Saturday called on students of state universities and colleges to concentrate on their studies rather than walk of out their classrooms to protest supposed budget cuts in the budget of SUCs.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte made the remarks after SUC students held a mass action that included planking in Mendiola on Friday to press for a higher budget for state institutions.

“I hope that we would focus on our studies,” Valte said on radio, when asked if Malacanang would call on militant students to stop the walk-outs because others were also persuaded to leave the classrooms to join the protests.

“Let’s prioritize our studies” she added.

Valte also belied that notion that the government has slashed the budget of SUCs.

She referred to the Department of Budget and Management’s statement that the budget for SUCs in the proposed 2012 national expenditure program was higher by 10.1 percent than their allocation under the 2011 budget.