A Call to Strike!

We are calling on all students, councils and organizations, educators, faculty unions and associations, employees and administrators of state schools nationwide to hold mass protest activities, walkouts, class stoppages and campus strikes starting November 22.

We deem it necessary to hold bigger and more effective actions to express our opposition to the

• budget cut for the operations of 97 state universities and colleges by a total of P1.1 billion,

• zero allotment of capital outlay for our SUCs,

• reduction in the scholarship funds of the Commission on Higher Education by P650 million, and

• inadequate funds for basic education in the Aquino administration’s 2011 budget.

We need to act now to stop budget cuts in education and other social services. The cuts will lead to skyrocketing tuition and other fees and commercialization of social services, which will result to a greater number of Filipinos being driven into further destitution.

We worked hard during the past months to appeal to government and our lawmakers to stand for the interest of the people. However, Aquino allies in Congress railroaded the approval of the 2011 budget, increasing in billions the pork barrel funds, dole-outs and patronage funds, budget for military and debt spending. They maintained the cuts in education and services.

Clearly, we need to escalate our protests as Senate is set to vote on the budget. Students, faculty, employees, administrators, and other stakeholders should build the broadest and widest possible unity in our campuses for the people’s right to education.

Assemblies and protests in our campuses must be conducted for several days and may take the form of big marches, sit-in protests, class walk-outs, etc. Stoppage of the operations of our campuses for several days and closure of classrooms and buildings will be a logical consequence brought about by the participation of large numbers of students and faculty.

We are calling for a culmination of the activities to a big protest march to the Senate on December 1 to deliver the strongest message against the education and social services budget cuts.

We owe it to the Filipino people. We owe it to the future generation. It is during these times that the youth are being called to take up its role as hope of our motherland.

During the coming days let us make history and declare: we are ON STRIKE for the right to education, for the sake of our nation and our future.

Para sa bayan, para sa kinabukasan.

Kilos na laban sa budget cuts!

Signed,

National Youth Formations

National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP)

College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)

League of Filipino Students (LFS)

Anakbayan

Kabataang Artista para sa Tunay na Kalayaan (KARATULA)

Student Christian Movement of the Philippines (SCMP)

KABATAAN Partylist

Regents of State Colleges and Universities

Cori Alessa Co, University of the Philippines System Student Regent

Sheryl Alapad, Polytechnic University of the Philippines Student Regent

Mikko James Rodriguez, Philippine Normal University Student Regent

Ana Rea Alcazar, Rizal Technological University Student Regent

Dr. Judy Taguiwalo, University of the Philippines Faculty Regent

Clodualdo Cabrera, University of the Philippines Staff Regent

Administration Officials, Deans and Faculty

Dr. Dante Guevara, PUP President

Alfredo Pascual, fomer UP Alumni Regent

Dean Roland Tolentino, Dean, UP College of Mass Communication

Dean Edna Co, UP National College of Public Administration and Governance

Sarah Raymundo, CONTEND-UP

Dr. Fidel Nemenzo

Prof. Noni Queano

Prof. Vlad Gonzales

Prof. Gerry Lanuza

Prof. Danny Arao

Prof. Jonna Asis

Prof. Katrina Macapagal

Prof. Sharon Briones

Prof. Det Neri

Prof. Choy Pangilinan

Prof. Louie Vallejo

Prof. Marian Roque

Prof. Roselle Pineda

Prof. Siao Campoamor

Prof. Carl Ramota, Chair, Department of Social Sciences, UP Manila College of Arts and Sciences

Prof. Doroteo Abaya

Prof. Edberto Villegas

Prof. Rose Roque

Prof. Risa Jopson

Prof. Roland Simbulan

Prof. JPaul Manzanilla

Student Councils/ Governments:

Eulogio Amang Rodriquez Institute of Science and Technology Institute Student Government

Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral

Araullo University -College of Law- Student Council

Central Luzon State University – University Supreme Student Council

La Fortuna College – Supreme Student Gouncil

Asian Institute of E-Commerce – Alliance of Peer Leaders

Provincial Manpower Training Center – Supreme Student Council

Eduardo L. Joson Memorial College – Supreme Student Council

College of Immaculate Conception – College Student Supreme Council

Good Samaritan Colleges – Supreme Student Council

ABE College of Business and Accountancy – Supreme Student Council

Midway Maritime Foundation Inc. – Supreme Student Council

AMA Computer College (Cabanatuan) – Student Society on Information Technology Education

Nueva Ecija University of Sciece and Technology – University Student Government

Wesleyan University – Philippines – Central Student Council

Araullo University Supreme Student Government

San Jose Christian Colleges – student Body Organization

STI Education Center – Supreme Student Council

Palayan City Institute of Technology – Supreme Student Council

First Asian International Systems College – Student Body Organization

Core Gateway College – Education Student Council

Laguna State Polytechnic University- Mechanical Engineering Society

Cavite State University- Indang College of Arts and Sciences- Students Committee

University of the Philippines-Diliman University Student Council

University of the Philippines-Diliman League of College Councils

University of the Philippines-Manila University Student Council

University of the Philippines- Baguio University Student Council

University of the Philippines- Extension Program in Pamapanga University Student Council

University of the Philippines- Baler Campus University Student Council

University of the Philippines- Visayas University Student Council

University of the Philippines- Cebu College Student Council

University of the Philippines- Miag-ao Campus Student Council

University of the Philippines- Visayas Tacloban Student Council

University of the Philippines- Mindanao Campus Student Council

Philippine Normal University- Manila University Student Government

Philippine Normal University- Agusan Student Council

Philippine Normal University -Cadiz Student Council

Philippine Normal University- Isabela Student Council

Philippine Normal University- Quezon Student Council

Benguet State University Student Government

Bicol University Student Government

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntipula USC

Romblon State College Student Council

University of Rizal System Student Council

Don Honorio Ventura College of Arts and Trade Supreme Student Council

Palawan State University Student Council

Romblon State University Supreme Student Council

Surigao del sur State Polytechnic College Student Council

PUP Ragay Supreme Student Council

University of Southern Mindanao Supreme Student Council

Cotabato City Polytechnic College Supreme Student Council

Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University Supreme Student Council

Western Mindanao State University University Student Council

Romblon State College Student Council

Alliances:

Alliance of Concerned Students-Partido ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral (ACS-PDM), University of Northern Philippines in Vigan, Ilocos Sur

Nueva Ecija Colleges and Universities Student Councils Association

Student Alliance for the Advancement of Democratic Rights- UP (STAND-UP)

Alliance of Students for Alternative Progress-Katipunan ng Demokratikong Mag-aaral (ASAP-KATIPUNAN)

Katipunan ng mga Sangguniang Mag-aaral sa UP (KASAMA sa UP )

ANAK-PUP

National federation of Student Leaders in PNU

Organizations

STAND UP

UP Agham Youth

Alay Sining

Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity-UP Diliman

UP Anakbayan

Artists’ Circle Fraternity

Artists’ Circle Sorority

Astrum Scientis Sorority

Beta Lambda Kappa Sorority

Center for Nationalist Studies

EMC2 Fraternity

UP Gabriela

Gamma Sigma Pi Fraternity

UP Ibalon

Lambda Sigma Pi Sorority

UP League of Filipino Students

UP Moriones

UP NNARA Youth

Pi Omicron Fraternity-UP Diliman

Pi Sigma Delta Sorority-UP Diliman

UP Praxis

PROGAY-LESBOND

UP Psychological Association

UP Roma

Saligan sa CSSP

Sigma Delta Pi Sorority-UP Diliman

Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity-UP Diliman

Sinagbayan

UP Student Christian Movement

UP Union of Journalists in the Philippines

Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity-UP Manila

Alpha Phio Omega Sorority-UP Manila

UPM Anakbayan

UPM Gabriela

Health Organization for the People

UPM Karatula

UPM League of Filipino Students

UPM NNARA Youth

UPM Pre-Law Society

Sigma Delta Pi Sorority-UP Manila

Alliance of Concerned Students- PUP

Juxtapoz

KABARO

BayanMuna

National Network of Agrarian Reform Advocates- Youth

Sigma Kappa Pi Fraternity –UP Manila

UPM Student Christian Movement

Anakbayan-Cordillera

Anakbayan-Gitnang Luzon

Anakbayan-Metro Manila

Anakbayan-Timog Katagalugan

Anakbayan-Bikol

Anakbayan-Cebu

Anakbayan-Panay

Anakbayan-Negros

Anakbayan-Davao

Anakbayan-New York/New Jersey

Anakbayan-Seattle

Anakbayan-East Bay

Anakbayan-Los Angeles

Anakbayan-Japan

League of Filipino Students (LFS) -NCR

LFS-Cagayan Valley

LFS-Baguio

LFS-Palawan

LFS-UPLB

LFS-Tarlac State University

LFS-UP Pampanga

LFS-Sorsogon

LFS-Cebu

LFS-Negros

LFS-Iloilo

LFS-Mindanao State University-IIT

LFS-Marawi

LFS Lanao

LFS Cagayan De Oro

LFS Malaybalay

LFS-Southern Mindanao

LFS-Far South Mindanao

LFS-San Fransisco

KARATULA-Ilocos

KARATULA-Cordillera

KARATULA-NCR

KARATULA-Iloilo

KARATULA-Bicol

Student Christian Movement (SCM)- NCR

SCM-Southern Tagalog

SCM-Eastern Visayas

SCM-Central Visayas

SCM-Iloilo

SCM-Caraga

SCM- Zamboanga

SCM-Davao

SCM-Tandag

SCM-General Santos

Student Publications

Philippine Collegian

Manila Collegian

PUP Catalyst

Earist Technozette

The Scholastican

STI aSTIg

PNU The Torch

TSU The Work

TSU The Blaze

UP Vista

Ateneo de Davao Atenews

UPB Outcrop

UPLB Perspective

Ateneo de Naga The Pillars

TUA Trinity Observer

PLMun The Warden

UP SOLIDARIDAD

PUP Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag

PNU Pluma

University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos Tolentine Star