Senator Idol Raffy Tulfo conducted an ocular inspection at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa on June 29, following a request from students who appeared on his program, “Raffy Tulfo in Action.”
During his visit, Sen. Tulfo verified the claims made by PUP students regarding the outdated, damaged, and inadequate state of the school’s facilities.
“While the quality of education at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) can indeed be exceptional, the facilities here are in a deplorable condition,” he remarked.
“The buildings and classrooms are in a pitiful state. For instance, the engineering laboratory equipment is severely outdated and barely functional. The hallways and certain classrooms feel like ovens, lacking proper ventilation and having only a few electric fans. The chairs are begging to be replaced. Furthermore, all buildings lack accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWD) due to broken elevators,” he added.
Tulfo highlighted the difficulty in operating the laboratory equipment in the Engineering Department, noting that some of the items resembled nothing more than discarded objects.
He emphasized the urgent need for building renovations and equipment upgrades at PUP. Specifically, he mentioned the abundance of old and fragile chairs, classrooms that become unbearably hot due to inadequate ventilation and the absence of ceiling fans. Moreover, he revealed that the elevators in various buildings were non-functional, a critical issue for PWD students.
Tulfo also drew attention to the deteriorated state of the basketball court, where he expressed concern that the ball may not even bounce properly due to the floor’s numerous flakes. Furthermore, he discovered dangling electrical cables inside the gym, posing potential hazards.
Expressing dismay, Tulfo highlighted the power shortages in some buildings resulting from ongoing construction. He shared that a project by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which has been under construction for nearly a year, remains unfinished. Additionally, he observed scattered piles of discarded items throughout the campus, raising concerns about mosquito infestation and the risk of dengue fever.
During his meeting with University President Manuel M. Muhi and Vice President for Administration Adam V. Ramilo, Tulfo learned that the university’s budget, allocated yearly by Congress, is being reduced by the Department of Budget Management (DBM), leaving insufficient funds for necessary infrastructure improvements and the acquisition of modern equipment.
In response, Tulfo pledged to advocate for the preservation of PUP’s budget during the upcoming Senate budget hearing, aiming to enhance the students’ experience, many of whom are children of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).
Before departing from the university, Tulfo provided several recommendations to improve PUP. These included conducting structural integrity assessments and implementing seismic retrofitting for older buildings, considering the university’s high student population. (AI/MNM)
