Students set Nov. 17 anti-corruption walkathon

By Juliane Judilla

In time for National Students’ Day on November 17, student organizations and youth groups across Western Visayas will hold a protest march dubbed “Walkathon Kontra Korapsyon” to denounce corruption and budget cuts in public education.

The event, organized by the Western Visayas Youth and Students Alliance (WVYSA) and its anti-corruption network Pamatan-on Kontra Kurapsyon (PAKK), urges the Marcos Jr. administration to “invest in classrooms, not corruption.”

WVYSA called for increased state support for public education, citing what it described as “persistent government neglect and misplaced priorities.”

According to WVYSA, the proposed budgets of several state universities and colleges in the region were significantly slashed under the 2026 National Expenditure Program.

West Visayas State University’s proposed PHP 5.23-billion budget was cut to PHP 2.32 billion.

The University of Antique and Iloilo Science and Technology University reportedly lost nearly 40 percent of their proposed funding.

“These cuts happen while students endure overcrowded classrooms, leaking roofs, and even flooded schools,” WVYSA said in a statement.

“Year after year, the government turns its back on education while pouring billions into questionable projects,” the group added.

WVYSA and PAKK criticized the administration’s spending priorities, pointing out that PHP 118 billion was allocated for flood control and PHP 695 billion for what they referred to as pork barrel funds.

“This is the real math of the Marcos budget: billions for corruption, crumbs for education,” their statement read.

They condemned what they called the “Marcos corruption budget,” adding that “the youth deserve classrooms, not construction kickbacks.”

The groups urged fellow students across Panay Island to join the protest and speak out.

“This National Students’ Day, we will take it to the streets,” said Arlie Bosque of WVYSA.

“We will not remain silent while our futures are robbed by corruption.”

The “Walkathon Kontra Korapsyon,” a twist on the traditional student walkout, will begin at 3:00 p.m. on November 17.

Students from West Visayas State University and the University of the Philippines Visayas will march simultaneously toward the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.