Faculty Regent Gadong expresses alarm over 2025 UP budget cut
Faculty Regent Early Sol Gadong has expressed alarm over the PhP2.08 billion budget cut affecting the University of the Philippines (UP), alongside reductions in the budgets of critical social services such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), and housing agencies. Speaking at the All UP Academic Employees Union (AUPAEU) Strategic Planning for 2025, Gadong urged collective action to address these austerity measures, which she warned would adversely affect UP and marginalized sectors across the country. Newly sworn-in Faculty Regent Gadong officially assumed office after being sworn in by UP President Angelo Jimenez in a short oath-taking ceremony at Quezon Hall in UP Diliman, Quezon City, attended by academic union officers, former faculty regents, university officials, and members of the UP community. During the planning session, Gadong delivered an in-depth discussion on the National Situation, providing a critical review of 2024 challenges and key political and economic issues for the new year. She analyzed the tensions between the ruling political cliques of the Dutertes and Marcoses, emphasizing their impact on national governance. She also discussed the quadcom hearings investigating former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs and Vice President Sara Duterte’s questionable fund allocations under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, including the alleged misappropriation of PhP125 million in just 11 days. The discussion highlighted the Marcos administration’s budget reductions for education, health, and disaster response, as well as the controversial PhP4.5 billion confidential funds under the Office of the President. Gadong warned of potential misuse of these funds to influence electoral outcomes and criticized increased Social Security System (SSS) contributions that burden working-class Filipinos. Faculty Regent Gadong called on AUPAEU members to join the campaign against budget cuts for social services and to advocate for academic freedom, social justice, and institutional accountability. The planning session ended with a commitment to advancing the welfare of UP faculty and staff while standing in solidarity with sectors affected by budget cuts, corruption, and political infighting.