Marcos vetoes PUP bill; university cites funding concerns

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. has vetoed a bill aimed at strengthening the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) as the National Polytechnic University.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro stated during a briefing that the President's decision was based on PUP's failure to comply with an assessment directive issued in 2016, emphasizing that the university did not meet re-assessment requirements and received only a Level II rating compared to other SUCs achieving Levels III and IV.

Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed deep disappointment over the veto, stating it delays efforts to upgrade PUP’s status and provide higher education standards for Filipino youth.

The bill aimed to extend support to other polytechnic state universities and colleges by offering higher occupational, technical, and professional instruction and training programs, including establishing a Center for Artificial Intelligence and Key Emerging Technologies.

PUP expressed concern over the veto's potential impact on institutional autonomy and academic freedom, highlighting its 120-year legacy and the need for fiscal support to sustain its growing student population of nearly 97,000 enrollees.

The university warned that without the P100 million in annual funding provided by the bill over five years, several campuses may face imminent closure, emphasizing the veto as a rejection of quality education and democratization efforts.