KIKO MOVES TO AVERT DECLINING UP EDUCATION
LEADS SB 1833 TO PERIOD OF AMENDMENTS

In a bid to avert the declining competitiveness of UP education and the exodus of highly-skilled professors to private schools, Senate Majority Leader Kiko Pangilinan today reiterated the immediate passage of the bill that would amend the century-old charter of the country's premier university as it entered the period of amendments.

"Many of the woes and concerns of UP are borne out of a small budget to reform and improve many of its services. With the passage of the UP Charter Act, the University will be able to generate income from vast tracks of idle land, which could be used to improve its curricula and salary system," Kiko said.

"It is sad that two or three decades ago, other Asian national universities looked up to UP as the center of learning and information in Asia. Today, UP is lagging behind," he said.

"The present condition of UP reflects many of our misplaced priorities because of our financial limitations. It also betrays our resolve to develop and be globally-competitive," he added.

Senate Bill 1833 aims to pave the way for amending the UP Charter. It proposes to exempt UP faculty from the Salary Standardization Law, to exempt the University from taxes and duties in the importation of much needed technology and tax incentives for donations to the University of the Philippines. If the law is passed, UP will be allowed to utilize its resources to generate additional revenue, without compromising its mandate to provide affordable yet quality education for our citizens.