Baguio Students Win Fight vs P24,000 Fee

Published on February 26, 2005

Student power produced results in Baguio last week then Nursing and midwifery students succeeded in reducing “affiliation fees” by several thousands of pesos.

BY ABI TAGUBA BENGWAYAN
Northen Dispatch
Reposted by Bulatlat

BAGUIO CITY – In a time of tuition increases nationwide, nursing and midwifery students of the Baguio Central University (BCU) had a 71 percent reduction in fees due to their concerted efforts.

Students will pay only P6,732 ($123.08, based on an exchange rate of P54.695 per US dollar) and P200.50 ($3.66) for tuition and registration fees, respectively, instead of the affiliation fee originally pegged at P24,232.50 ($443.05).

Refunds will now be sought for students who have already paid the original amount.

The affiliation fee covers 24 days of affiliation duty in hospitals. The amount was stipulated in a “business contract” BCU College of Nursing and Midwifery Dean Jeanette Bongalos had forged with the Golden Bay Hotel in Manila through a certain Liza Vasquez.

In a dialogue with Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-Cordillera Director Magdalena Jasmin, students were informed that the affiliation fee should only cover tuition and registration, unlike the original fee which included transportation, lodging, and meals. Bongalos, including other college deans, were present at the dialogue.

Jasmin was also surprised why the students were made to complete their affiliation duty in Manila when they can have it in Baguio. She added that other courses can be completed in Baguio.

Requirement to stay at hotel

Last February 7, some students were not allowed to have their affiliation duty because they did not stay at the Golden Bay Hotel.

In a statement, the Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral ng Narsing at Midwifery (SMNM, or Association of Students of Nursing and Midwifery) and the Democratic Action Party for the Youth (DAP-AY) said that there is no legal basis for the school administration to require them to stay at the said hotel. The groups pointed out that they have the right to explore other options to avoid such expenses while having their affiliation duty.

This was also reiterated by City Councilor Jose Molintas who supported the students through a resolution “calling for the adoption of a uniform policy or guidelines regarding the school campus to protect the public and to avoid unnecessary expenses on the part of the parents and students.” Since last week, nursing and midwifery students through the SMNM and the DAP-AY have brought their concerns to the City Council.

Students from other universities like UP Baguio, Easter College, Inc. and University of the Cordilleras also supported the BCU students.

Harassment

Protesting students were reportedly harassed by the BCU administration. BCU President Margarita Fernandez even wrote the CHED last February 5 asking that SMNM Governor Chester Tuazon be sanctioned for leading rallies in school while a scholar of the Study Now Pay Later Plan (SNPLP) under CHED.

“Pati scholarship ko, gustong tanggalin (Even my scholarship was targeted to be removed),” remarked Tuazon, who is in his third year as a Nursing student. Other students were threatened of being kicked out, he said.

Jasmin however replied to Fernandez last February 17 that the latter’s claim that Tuazon participated in any “subversive activity” was not substantiated. “Starting peaceful assemblies, rallies and demonstrations at school premises for lawful purposes is not a subversive activity under the Grounds for Termination of the Scholarship/Study Grants of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Various Programs”, Jasmin’s letter read.

With impending tuition hikes in other colleges and universities, SMNM and DAP-AY leaders called on their fellow students to unite and “stand solidly” against excessive and unjust fees. Nordis/Bulatlat