The Varsitarian

THOMASIANS will enter the quadricentennial school year paying a four-percent tuition increase, lower than the initially recommended six-percent hike and last year’s five-percent tuition rise.

“The increase is mainly to balance the loss of buying power due to [the] inflation rate,” University Comptroller Diomedes Yadao said.

Initially, the administration proposed a six-percent tuition hike, which is higher than the country’s inflation projection of 3.5 to 5.5 percent for this year. March’s inflation rate was 4.4 percent.

“But after considering concerns from parents and students, finally, it was settled at four percent,” Yadao said.

Former Central Student Council president Jeanne Luz Castillo said the increase was “reasonable.”

“We know that an increase is inevitable, but our goal was to at least temper the increase to [what is] really necessary and reasonable,” Castillo said.

With the four-percent increase, students will now pay P1,172 per unit, P45 more than the P 1,127 per unit charged last academic year.

Under the law, 70 percent of tuition increases must go to salaries of school faculty and staff, 20 percent to the operational expenses of the school, and 10 percent to return on investment.

Faculty pay was recently increased by two percent (see story below).

“The rising price of basic supplies, like electricity and water, and the need for faculty [and] employees to maintain the purchasing value of their compensation, prompted the increase [of] the amount of tuition and [other] fees students pay,” Yadao said.

This year’s hike is relatively lower than the previous years because the University had “also considered the economic condition of the country today,” he added.

But some parents still find the increase inconsiderate.

“Parents are already having a hard time working and earning to have their children finish their education. Not all parents are rich so they could not afford the increase,” said Susan Uang, mother of an incoming journalism senior.

Castillo defended the increase.

“The families will be affected by the tuition increase, but as guaranteed by our administration, the effects of the increase will be felt through better services and facilities, thus, better education,” she explained.

UST Faculty Union president Gil Gamilla agreed.

“[The four percent tuition hike] is humane,” Gamilla said. “[It is based from] whatever the student leaders and the administration have agreed upon.”

The administration conducts a tuition consultation with parents, students, and other stakeholders every February to discuss concerns with regard to the tuition increase for the following school year.

Yadao said UST only ranked fifth among other major colleges and universities in terms of rate per unit.

Last school year, Ateneo de Manila University charged P2,592 per unit; De La Salle University-Manila, P1,942 per unit; Miriam College, P 1,575 per unit; and Mapua Institute of Technology, P1,411 per unit.

Yadao said Ateneo will increase its rate by four percent this school year, La Salle, five percent; and Mapua; six percent.

The “Committee on Tuition Fees,” which facilitated the tuition consultation, was composed of Yadao; Gonzales; Fr. Manuel F. Roux, O.P., vice rector for finance; Clarita Carillo, assistant to the rector for academic affairs and research; Pilar Romero, assistant to the Rector for administration; Rodolfo Clavio, registrar; Fr. Herminio Dagohoy, O.P., auditor; assistant treasurers Fr. Jose Ma. Tinoko, O.P. and Fr. Isaias Tiongco, O.P.; and lawyer Leonardo Syjuco. Jilly Anne A. Bulauan