‘Hindi po tayo maniningil ng tuition mula sa mga estudyante’ - Pres. Leyco

Students of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) were reassured that they will not be paying any tuition fee as per PLM President Emmanuel Leyco during his online briefing via Zoom, Aug. 27.

As stipulated in Republic Act No. 10931 namely the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act," Filipino students have the absolute right to quality education, therefore, the State must ensure that education shall be accessible for all.

On Aug. 15, PLM Board of Regents Chairperson Atty. Jose Ngaw received a letter from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) which stated that the university’s exemption from compliance with institutional recognition was revoked. With the effectivity of CMO No. 18, s. 2022, PLM was directed to comply with the Enhanced Policies, Standards, and Guidelines on the Grant of Institutional Recognition as a Higher Educational Institution to Local University and College (LUC) within 15 days from the date of the letter’s issuance.

Attached in the letter was the Commission En Banc (CEB) Resolution No. 285-2023 which encompassed its meeting that discussed the said revocation of PLM’s exemption. The university was now directed to comply with CHED’s determination of higher educational institutions (HEI) which shall benefit from RA 10931. With CMO No. 11, s. 2018, LUCs under the reimbursement program shall comply with the requirements for institutional recognition wherein one of them is that the president of an LUC must have earned a doctorate degree.

Based on CHED-NCR records, the PLM President does not possess a doctorate degree which is a requirement for an LUC to be granted with institutional recognition. With the enhanced standards for qualification, the CEB has decided to retract PLM’s exemption to the compliance and directed the university to comply with CMO No. 18, s. 2022. Failure to adhere, the Commission shall recommend to the Unified Financial Assistance System (UniFAST) governing board to delist PLM from its list of beneficiaries.

During Leyco’s public briefing, he disclosed that the university had already responded to the letter from CHED. However, in case that CHED stands firm on their decision and the CEB Resolution No. 285-2023 is still in effect, PLM is prepared to appeal to the UniFAST governing board.

“Hindi po negotiable, and hindi tayo mag-cocompromise when it comes to the plight of the welfare of our students and employees,” Leyco said.

The main concern at hand is the status of PLM’s classification as a university. The Republic Act No. 4196, “An Act Authorizing the City of Manila to Establish and Operate the University of City of Manila” was the very law that established PLM as a chartered university. However, State Universities and Colleges (SUC), and LUC were the only classifications of CHED for UniFAST qualification, both of which the university does not exactly fall under but identifies in both classifications in some aspects. Part of PLM being identified as SUC is that it is established by the national government while its identification as LUC comes from it being financially supported by the local government unit (LGU). The confusion regarding PLM’s classification was rooted from the aforementioned circumstances.

In the event that PLM will be delisted from the UniFAST reimbursement program, the university will fully rely on the funding from Manila LGU. However, Manila LGU will not be financially capable of covering the tuition fee of the entire student population of PLM and its other operating expenses. In addition, PLM will no longer be operating as an independent and autonomous university.

The university is willing to challenge this to the court, specially the classification of PLM. Leyco noted that the university has a network of constituents in the education sector that may be asked for assistance with regards to this matter.

“Hindi po tayo magsasara, hindi po tayo maniningil ng tuition mula sa mga estudyante na dapat ay mabayaran mula sa UniFAST,” Leyco said.

The PLM administration and its executive committee have been conducting constant consultations and they assured that all possible avenues will be exhausted regarding this matter.