“We allocated P23.4 billion to 112 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in 2011. This is 1.7 percent lower than the P23.8 billion budget for 2010. We are gradually reducing the subsidy to SUCs to push them toward becoming self-sufficient and financially independent, given their ability to raise their income and to utilize it for their programs and projects.” –President Noynoy Aquino, August 25, 2010

“May nagsasabi rin pong mas mababa daw ang pondo para sa SUC’s sa susunod na taon, na hindi rin naman po totoo.” –President Noynoy Aquino, October 19, 2010

"Sana, estudyante sila, pag-aralan nila kung ano yung sitwasyon (They are students, so I hope they'll study the situation)," –President Noynoy Aquino, November 27, 2010

“Para sa taong 2011, ang ilalaan na kabuuang subsidiya ng administrasyong Aquino para sa mga SUC’s ay mahigit-kumulang P23.41 bilyon (kabilang na ang pondo para sa Personnel at Retirement Pension benefits na sa aktwal na General Appropriations Act ay hiwalay sa budget ng SUC’s). Mas mababa ito nang mahigit P437 milyon mula sa budget ng SUC’s ngayong 2010, at mas mababa ito nang halos P2 bilyon mula sa budget ng SUC’s noong 2009.” –State Universities and Colleges Budget Briefer 2011 prepared by Kabataan Partylist published last September  http://kabataanpartylist.com/blog/state-universities-colleges-budget-briefer-2011/

"(They) got it all wrong. Parang multo yung pinagdedemonstrahan nila (It's like they're demonstrating against a ghost)." -Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on the protesting students, teachers and University officials, November 26, 2010

“I just wanted to clarify. There is no reduction in the budget of SUCs, including UP... So while it appears that on the basis of GAA and the NEP or even the GAB, there appears to be a deduction, the truth is merong increase because congressional insertions yung P2.810 billion which are not retained because these are congressional insertions. So that is the truth of the matter.” –Sen. Franklin Drilon, chairman of the Senate  Finance Committee, November 26, 2010

“With or without the congressional insertions, most of which came in the form of additional capital outlay, the fact remains that the government’s subsidy for the MOOE of SUCs has been greatly reduced by P1.1 billion, with seven universities including the University of the Philippines bound to experience a cut of more than half of their MOOE from this year. It is the budget cut in this significant segment of the government’s subsidy for SUC’s that effectively result in tuition and other fee increases that make higher education in the country inaccessible to the vast majority of the Filipino youth.” –Kabataan Partylist Rep. Raymond Palatino, September 24, 2010

“So rather than just saying it is a congressional initiative, the real question is, is it a good initiative or not? and definitely the bottomline is, totoong mababawasan pa rin ang budget sa SUCs, dahil kahit tanggalin man  ang congressional initiative, P1.1-B parin ang matatanggal sa MOOE.” –Senate Minority Floor Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, November 25, 2010

"Abad explained that under the Higher Education Modernization Act of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8292), SUCs are authorized to retain and disburse their income, including subsidies received from the national government. He noted that on average, an SUC had a cash balance of P65.8 million, equivalent to 41.3 percent of their expenditures." -Press release by the Department of Budget and Management dated September 23, 2010

“Do not be deceived when you read in the papers today that 'UP has P11 billion in income that is not plowed back to the national treasury'. That P11 billion constitute endowment funds obtained from private donors which are for specific purposes such as professorial chairs that administrators cannot use for MOOE, Equipment Outlay or Capital Outlay. UP has the right to greater state subsidy!" - Dean Adelaida Mayo, UP College of Home Economics

"Umpisahan mo ano priority, basic ed. Basic ed 'wag na tayong gumawa ng problema para hindi mo iko-correct sa high school at sa college. So kelangan mo maglaan ng pondo dun." -President Noynoy Aquino, November 26, 2010

"The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all." -Section 1, Article XIV, 1987 Philippine Constitution 

“Undeniably, government is aggressively getting out from its responsibility to provide adequate social service through quality education.  The cut to the budget of public higher education is by no means a consequence of the increase in the budget allocated for basic education. This line of thinking falsely and maliciously divides the strong solidarity of educators whose bid for a higher budget goes beyond demanding a larger share of the pie. We question government’s concerted policies that spell ruin for public service.” –Congress of Teachers/Educators for Nationalism and Democracy

“Ang tanong ng kabataan: saan patungo ngayon ang daang matuwid? Sa pagkakamit ng katarungan at ng mga batayang karapatan ng mamamayan, o sa pagpapatuloy ng mga kontra-kabataan at kontra-mamamayang polisiya ng mga nagdaang administrasyon?” –UP Manila Student Council Chair Ces Santos, one of the students who staged a lightning rally during Aquino’s 100 days report