Cagayan State U mulls reimposing tuition fees

CAGAYAN, Philippines – (UPDATED) Cagayan State University officials are studying the reimposition of tuition fees after observing a “no tuition fee policy” for 4 years, a school official said.

Dr Manuel Tan Jr, chair of the technical committee tasked to review the fee structure of the university, said his committee will make the recommendation to CSU president Romeo Quilang who formed the body in July 2014.

Tan clarified, however, that their recommendations still have to go through the process mandated by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Memorandum Order 03-2012.

“This is still not executory because it was not yet approved by the president and neither by the Board (of Regents). The next procedure would be the consultation and for deliberation of the student body, faculty, and other stakeholders,” he said.

If the students reject the proposal, the administration will have to maintain the current system, Tan said.

Proper process

Student Regent Ronel Alcasoda said the students are not snubbing the proposal.

“We are always for the better as long the agenda will pass through a right and appropriate process. I know still the administration wants to give the best for us,” Alcasoda said.

During the consultation attended by the student leaders in the university on Friday, majority of the students favored the proposal, according to Alcasoda.

He said the proposal is focused on the formalization and systematization of CSU’s fiscal management.

“We have CHED orders and laws that would support the proposal, whereas in the current system (No Tuition Fee System), there is none. We cannot allot a percentage to faculty, development, infrastructure, and others because we are not guided by any law in the current system,” Alcasoda said.

He said he will support the proposal on the condition that the CSU administration would not impose a significant increase in fees.

Assurance

In 2009, the CSU Board of Regents (BOR) approved the “no tuition fee” policy under the administration of Roger Perez.

But as stated in the findings of the Technical Committee, the “removed” tuition fee was redistributed to the various items falling under the fiduciary fees.

Tan also said the removal of the tuition fee caused an abrupt increase in the university population, now totaling over 39,000 in 8 campuses.

In an interview, Quilang said there will be no material increase in the proposed fee structure.

“Actually, it is only minimal. There is no essential increase, we just slashed some items in the fiduciary and miscellaneous to the Tuition Fee,” he said.

Quilang said students need not to worry, in case tuition fees are reimposed, because they would still be assured that CSU would have the lowest tuition fee in Northern Luzon.

Currently, the school collects fees ranging from P2000 ($45)-P4000 ($90) for its undergraduate degrees. – Rappler.com

US$1 = P44.20