U.P.

MEDICINE STUDENT COUNCIL

College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila

Resolution No. 0405 - 003

A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE POSITION OF STUDENTS ON THE MATTER OF ANY PROPOSED

TUITION FEE INCREASE IN THE UP COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, OPPOSING SUCH A MEASURE AS A
SOLUTION TO ANY PERCEIVED FISCAL CRISIS, RECOMMENDING OTHER SOLUTIONS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES ADOPTED ON 11 FEBRUARY 2005.

Introduced by: Domingo, Albert Francis E.

Co-sponsored by: Valdez, Donn Mc Angelo T.

Referred to the General Assembly of the MSC

as an urgent matter on 11 February 2005.

Passed and Adopted by the Executive Committee on 11 February 2005.

Approved and Signed by the Chairperson on 16 February 2005.

WHEREAS, the UPCM is acknowledged to be the top medical school in the Philippines – a State University unit at
that – and is recognized to have an important role in the healthcare scenario of the nation, being the perceived model
of medical education with its high standards of academic excellence;

WHEREAS, in line with the Centennial Celebration of the UPCM with the theme “Healing, Humanity, and
Heroism”, the history of the UPCM has to be reviewed as context for current issues and events and their impact on
the future viability and position of the College;

WHEREAS, on 1 February 2005 the Administration of the UP College of Medicine (UPCM), through an Ad-Hoc
Committee chaired by Dr. Zorayda E. Leopando, conducted a public consultation with the students of the UPCM
concerning the cost of medical education and its implications on the matter of a Tuition Fee Increase (TFI);

WHEREAS, it was noted during the aforementioned public consultation that the current tuition fee of Eleven
thousand five hundred twenty nine pesos and fifty centavos Philippine Currency (PHP 11,529.50) has been the
prevailing rate since the year 1992, the most recent TFI implemented in the history of the UPCM;

WHEREAS, the Administration of the UPCM mentioned at the above forum an alleged Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) meeting in which funding for Maintenance and Operational Expenses (MOOE) of the UPCM is
reportedly being progressively reduced to zero level by the year 2008, and it was further mentioned that the College
is operating on a Budget Deficit;

WHEREAS, it was asked in the forum if another TFI is necessary to address the above situation, and the U.P.
Medicine Student Council (UP-MSC), by representation and acting as the collective voice of the students of the
UPCM sees a need for the student body to resolve and forward an official position on the matter;

WHEREAS, the UP-MSC believes that current or would-be students should never be the recourse of administration
for financial support, citing our nature as a State Institution of Higher Learning which provides for accessibility of an
affordable medical education to the financially-challenged Filipino;

WHEREAS, the UP-MSC is aware of the other options also presented at the same aforementioned public
consultation, foremost of which include lobbying for higher State Subsidy, calling for the passage of a New UP
Charter that provides for solutions to the University’s fiscal crisis, and the matter of a Return of Service arrangement
for UPCM graduates;

WHEREAS, on extensive documented consultation with its constituents, the UP-MSC has noted several opinions on
the matter of a TFI, and hereby draws upon those points of view in the promulgation of this resolution;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED by the U.P. MEDICINE STUDENT COUNCIL (UP-
MSC) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE assembled in regular session, to OPPOSE any current or future TFI proposal as a
solution to any perceived budget deficit or fiscal crisis;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the appropriate grievance forum of Government be manifested upon as to the alleged
declaration of the DBM and the operational deficit thus being sustained, praying that the UPCM Administration be
one with the UP-MSC in so doing, seeking for legal comment and action on the reported reduction of funds for
MOOE of the College in light of the law’s mandated support for Education;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Administration be URGED to increase its efforts in lobbying for higher State Subsidy
in unison with the UP-MSC, taking cognizance of current developments such as the recent passage of the 2005
General Appropriations Act by the Senate and the pending Bicameral Conference Committee in relation to the same
law;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Administration be URGED to UNITE with the UP-MSC on the matter of its
Resolution Nos. 0405-001 and 0405-002 dealing with the lobby for a proposed New UP Charter that would allow for
fiscal autonomy and flexibility via heightened State Support for the University of the Philippines;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that it be PROPOSED to the Administration that instead of a Tuition Fee Increase agenda,
discussions be initiated on Return of Service arrangements for UPCM graduates as a possible solution to the
College’s fiscal crisis in relation to the alleged reasoning of Government that they cannot increase subsidy because
UPCM graduates do not practice in the country;

RESOLVED FURTHER, that the Administration be URGED to sequentially exhaust all other known alternative
measures towards fiscal stability apart from a TFI, make written notarized documentary records of such attempts
whether successful or failed, and manifest grievances, if any, to the proper authorities and/or governmental
agencies;

RESOLVED FINALLY, that the Administration’s efforts in maintaining the viability of the College be
ACKNOWLEDGED and APPRECIATED as their contribution to the welfare of the students of UPCM.

Let copies of this Resolution and/or letters expressing its salient points be furnished to the University President, the
University Board of Regents, the Student Regent, the UP Manila Chancellor, the UPCM Dean, the UPCM Task force
on Tuition Fee Increase or its equivalent, the UP Manila University Student Council, the Manila Collegian, and all
others concerned, for their information and reference.

PASSED and ADOPTED at the MSU Building, UP College of Medicine this 11th day of February, 2005.

The Executive Committee

Certification:

I HEREBY CERTIFY that pursuant to the House Rules of the UP-MSC, this Resolution numbered 0405 -003 was given due course
in the a General Assembly of the MSC and arrived at and approved unopposed in a meeting with quorum of the Executive Committee, the details
of which are in the Minutes of the Meeting dated 11 February 2005.

KARL MATTHEW SY SU
Secretary-General

Approved:

JOSEPH ANTHONY LACHICA

Chairperson