Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday stood up to oppose Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno's proposal to review the free college education system at state universities and colleges (SUCs).
In a statement, Hontiveros expressed her dismay that the government itself opposes its duty, noting that selective implementation of universal access to quality tertiary education won't address the perennial issue of dropout rates.
"Nakakahiyang mismo ang gobyerno ang umaatras sa constitutional duty nito upang siguraduhin na accesible ang education sa lahat ng antas para sa lahat," she said.
"As it stands, free tertiary education prioritizes the youth who are academically able and who come from poor family. With Sec. Diokno's proposal, mas may deserving pa ba sa kanila na mapabuti ang kalagayaan at maabot ang pangarap na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral?" Hontiveros added.
The Senator said Diokno, who is one of the country's economic manager, should instead focus on addressing rising costs of education-related day-to-day expenses such as transportation fare, food, and allowance, "providing families jobs and livelihood to prevent students from dropping out of school."
She believed that it is the government's responsibility to provide universal access to quality tertiary education to students in order to help them achieve their dreams, as free education is the government's first step.
"Kung gusto talagang tulungan ni Sec. Diokno ang usapin ng maaksayang paggamit ng pondo ng gobyerno, bakit hindi niya busisiin ang mga pondong nailagak sa mga ahensyang hindi naman dapat, gaya ng confidential funds, at mga hindi nagagamit ng tama?" Hontiveros remarked.
Recently, Diokno raised his proposal to screen those who will be eligible for free education following the rising number of dropouts in the country.
On Tuesday, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Prospero de Vera III, however, said that Diokno's proposal could be disastrous for the country.
