This implies that the UP budget has increased in the past two years. “We are fortunate because the government has been very receptive, because I think they see they are also doing our best to raise money, and so they are trying to match our efforts.”

Despite this increase in the budget, the tuition and other fee increases (ToFI) was implemented in July 2007 affecting incoming freshmen. From 300 pesos per unit, tuition became 1000 pesos per unit.

Moreover, the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP) was restructured, with the previous nine brackets being reduced to only five.

Roman said the additional 800 million and 400 million pesos added to the UP budget in 2006 and 2007 were only for the capital outlay and do not cover the maintenance and other operating expenses.

Also, Roman said the ToFI was implemented to increase the stipends for students and for modernization.

“Kulang na kulang naman ang 1,000 [pesos] a month,” Roman said. Under the restructured STFAP, the standard stipend is 12,000 pesos per semester.

Regarding the other half of the Centennial budget, Roman said efforts are underway for it to be raised.

“On our side, we have also been doing our fund raising. By our data’s account, it’s close to a billion yung nakukuha na namin,” Roman said. These are in form of faculty development (professorial chairs), equipment donation, scholarships, donations of art pieces, research grants from private and government agencies, travel grants, among others.

Roman said this is based on reports from various UP campuses, but they are still being double-checked for accuracy of the figures.

UP is also expected to profit from the ongoing Ayala project – the construction of a Science and Technology Park along Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon City. The land is leased to Ayala Land Inc.

“We get a share of the rent that they will get,” Roman said. “They plan to give us an advance [of] 100 million [pesos] also this June in commemoration of the Centennial.”

Roman said all the fund raising efforts will benefit UP. “Everything will go to UP,” she said.