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By Juliane Judilla
ILOILO CITY — Student councils, campus publications, and various youth organizations from across Panay gathered on February 20, 2026, at the Jaro Archdiocese Social Action Center (JASAC) to call for increased funding for education and demand accountability from Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte.
The press conference, convened days before the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power on February 25, gathered groups demanding active youth and students participation, carrying different calls and demands from various groups.
Chronic underfunding in education
The groups stressed that the education sector continues to suffer from chronic underfunding and repeated budget cuts, resulting in overcrowded and flood-prone classrooms, inadequate facilities, limited laboratory equipment, and insufficient student spaces. They argued that these conditions reflect long-standing neglect, while public funds are allegedly mismanaged and lost to corruption.
Matthew Gonzaga, Coordinator of NUSP Panay and Vice Chairperson of the Federated Student Council of West Visayas State University, outlined the challenges student councils face in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), citing tight institutional budgets that constrain student services and campus initiatives.
Calls for accountability
Samantha Herbolario, Chairperson of Anakbayan Panay, urged the youth to hold national leaders accountable for alleged irregularities in government spending and criticized what she described as worsening economic conditions burdening Filipino families.
Michael Baylon, representing the University Student Council of the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), discussed the impact of budget reductions within the broader UP System. He emphasized the urgency of prioritizing education in national expenditures to safeguard access to quality learning.
Blessy Cadullo of SAMASA–UPV echoed these concerns, describing the situation of students at the UPV Miagao campus and reiterating calls for free, accessible, and quality education.
Peter Panes, from the UPV College of Management Student Council, raised issues regarding accessibility and the allocation of resources at the UPV Iloilo City campus, stressing the need for equitable distribution of support services.
Private schools and campus press freedom
Jayson Gabo, a student from the University of Iloilo, noted that the university has a population of around 30,000 students—the largest in Iloilo. He underscored the need for expanded government subsidies for private school students and stronger state support for private higher education institutions.
Symon Vacunawa, representing the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) Panay Chapter, highlighted how budget constraints have affected campus publications. He warned that funding limitations pose broader threats to campus press freedom and the ability of student journalists to hold institutions accountable.
“True spirit of EDSA”
Arlie Bosque, Lead Convenor of Pamatan-on Kontra Korapsyon (PAKK), affirmed that the youth would continue asserting their role in nation-building and resisting corruption and injustice despite what he described as repeated attempts to silence dissent.
“You cannot steal the people’s money without stealing the future of the youth,” Bosque said.
“When public funds are robbed, the opportunities, education, and future of young Filipinos are robbed as well,” they added.
PAKK called on the youth, even with no classes scheduled on February 25, to “go out into the streets to learn from, fight for, and struggle with the masses,” framing this as embodying the true spirit of the EDSA uprising.
As the nation approaches the 40th anniversary of EDSA, the Panay youth groups said their mobilization serves as both a commemoration of past struggles and a renewed call to prioritize education, transparency, and accountability in governance./PT
