Wage increase urged to counter tuition hike, Raymond Palatino

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker on Friday urged the government to look into raising the wages of workers to cope with the increase in tuition fees.

Kabataan Partylist Representative Raymond Palatino said in a statement that a rise in tuition rates may result in more dropouts and out-of-school youths and called “for a substantial pay hike [which would allow] workers to continue sending their children to school.”

He said that the P125 wage increase demand, although still “insufficient“, would at least “help them cope with the onslaught of tuition hikes and price increases.”

He said that the Commission on Higher Education has approved a 10 percent tuition increase for 222 private colleges and universities nationwide.

Citing information from CHEd, Palatino said that the national average tuition per unit for academic year 2012-2013 would likely increase by P41.52 — to P475.47 per unit from the current P433.95.

The lawmaker said that families could be forced to stop sending their children to school as, according to the 2009 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, education remains to be one of the top expenses.

He cited data from the National Wages and Productivity Commission which pegged the necessary income for a family of six at P957 per day for basic expenses alone.

“A tuition moratorium, more than providing a pause for thought to regulate tuition increase, will provide immediate economic relief to students and parents especially in the context of the unabated price increases and the unjust imposition of fee increases in schools.”