New NegOr State U prexy lauds move to hike SUC’s budget

Tuesday 24th of July 2012

DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, July 24 (PIA) -- The newly-installed president of the Negros Oriental State University (Norsu) has lauded the move to increase the budget of state universities and colleges (SUC) in the country.

Norsu President Don Vicente Real described President Benigno S. Aquino III’s announcement to hike SUC’s budget next year as a “resounding development in higher education.”

President Aquino, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday said he is proposing a 43.61 percent increase in the budget of SUCs next year.

“As the new president of Norsu, I am very happy with this news,” said Real in a phone interview.

Real, who was installed as Norsu president early this month said the budget hike is long overdue since the total 107 state colleges and universities did not receive any allocation for capital outlay during the previous administration.

“We need funding if we have to work on producing top caliber students,” he said.

President Aquino, in his third SONA, reminded SUCs that the budget increase comes with a condition that students sponsored by the state are of top caliber.

“Expect that if you work to get high marks in this assignment, we will be striving just as hard to address the rest of your needs,” President Aquino said.

Norsu, the only state university in the province, has long been producing top notchers in national licensure exams.

In May this year, one of its graduates placed 10th in the Registered Master Electrician Examination held in May this year.

Two graduates from its Criminology and Midwifery courses also made it to the Top 10 of the respective licensure tests last year.

Real attributed Norsu’s academic improvement over the years to what he called as the “excellent management” of his predecessor, Dr. Henry A. Sojor, who he said practice conservative budgeting in savings and spending of incomes.

Norsu’s current student population is at 20,892 from its nine campuses in the following areas, namely: Guihulngan; Mabinay; Bais City (2); Pamplona; Dumaguete (2); Siaton; and Bayawan-Sta. Catalina. (RMN-PIA7 Negros Oriental)