BAGUIO CITY – On February 20, stickers opposing tuition and other fee increases (TOFI) appeared on bulletin boards and other prominent spaces across major private higher education institutions in Baguio City, including University of the Cordilleras, University of Baguio, and Saint Louis University. The materials urged the rejection of proposed fee hikes and drew attention to longstanding concerns over inadequate student services.
In a statement, Eugene Andrei Enciso, spokesperson, National Union of Students of the Philippines Cordillera said at Saint Louis University, administrators have proposed a 6.5 percent increase in other fees, with the final consultation scheduled for February 27. The University of Baguio has announced a 10 percent increase in tuition and other fees, continuing a pattern of similar adjustments in recent years. Meanwhile, the University of the Cordilleras has yet to formally present a proposal, though TOFI consultations are expected before CHED’s February 28 deadline.
Student groups describe the initiative as a visible expression of concern over both the affordability of education and the quality of campus services. With the deadline of consultations approaching, groups are also calling for transparent and participatory processes that allow substantive discussion, clear justification of proposed increases, and the genuine possibility of rejecting them and proposing alternatives.
They also emphasized that recurring fee hikes, especially amid rising living costs, must be matched by concrete and measurable improvements in facilities and academic resources. Ultimately, student groups assert that any adjustment in tuition and other fees must prioritize accessibility and welfare, maintaining that education should remain accessible and not impose undue financial burdens on students and their families.