ILOILO City — Students across Panay Island will walk out of their classrooms on November 17 to protest chronic education underfunding and alleged government corruption, challenging the Marcos administration’s spending priorities as the Philippines hosts a ₱22.9-billion ASEAN Summit attended by United States President Donald Trump.
The coordinated protest, coinciding with National Students’ Day, will bring together student councils, campus publications and youth organizations demanding greater government investment in classrooms, teachers, school facilities and free public education.
Dubbed “DUES Day: The Day of Reaping,” the mobilization will begin at 2:30 p.m., with protesters assembling at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV) Iloilo City campus and West Visayas State University (WVSU) in La Paz district before marching to the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
Organizers cited flooded classrooms, overcrowded campuses, inadequate student facilities and shortages of laboratory equipment as evidence of persistent neglect of public education.
They questioned why billions could be allocated for international gatherings while schools and state universities continue struggling with insufficient resources.
“Sa adlaw sang Students’ Day, madamo kita mga rason nga ipadayon ang aton struggle… sa National Students’ Day, ang tanan nga estudyante makigbato para sa bwas damlag nga rightfully para sa aton tanan,” said Arlie Bosque of the Western Visayas Youth and Students Alliance.
Addressing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Trump, Bosque declared:
“We are not going to stand idly by while you burn our future. We will struggle for a future that we deserve until every student is afforded a genuine and free education, until every classroom is built, until every teacher is hired and paid for, and until our nation is no longer plundered for foreign gains.”
The students also demanded accountability for alleged corruption involving public funds.
“We firmly reject the use of public funds for personal enrichment, political favors, or patronage. We stand for accountability whenever public funds are misused. We demand independent investigations into reported irregularities, public disclosure of findings, and accountability for those responsible,” the Western Visayas Youth and Students Alliance stressed.
The protest coincides with the 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Pasay City, Metro Manila from November 15 to 17.
Trump is scheduled to arrive in Manila on November 17 for the ASEAN-U.S. Special Summit and a bilateral meeting with Marcos.
Malacañang has defended the ₱22.9-billion summit allocation, saying the expenditure represents an investment in international engagement and Filipino workers and will undergo a public audit.
Beyond education funding and corruption, the students are opposing the US-led Pax Silica initiative, which includes a proposed 4,000-acre Economic Security Zone and artificial intelligence and semiconductor hub in New Clark City.
Youth organizations warned of possible environmental degradation, excessive water consumption and exploitation of mineral resources associated with the proposed development.
However, US Ambassador Lee Lipton said no major announcement or agreement signing involving Pax Silica was scheduled during the ASEAN Summit, with consultations still underway.
A Department of Trade and Industry official also confirmed, according to a November 11 ABS-CBN News report, that the Philippines and the United States would not sign an agreement on the proposed industrial hub during the summit.
Meanwhile, progressive multisectoral organizations in Panay will stage a separate demonstration outside WVSU on November 16 against Trump’s visit and what they describe as US-imposed economic and military policies.
Bosque urged students to join the November 17 mobilization.
“Magtindog kita (Let us stand up). Reject Pax Silica, Trump Out Now, budget sa education indi sa corruption (budget for education, not for corruption).”
National Students’ Day is observed every November 17 under Republic Act No. 11369, recognizing the contribution of student activism to Philippine democracy./PN