The University of the Philippines’ (UP) administration expressed its full support to the scheduled protest actions of its various student organizations aimed at condemning widespread corruption in government and extending appeals for political accountability.
In a statement released late Thursday, UP President Angelo Jimenez said “the University views with gravest concern the revelation of deep-seated and massive corruption plaguing the flood control projects in our country. We cannot stay neutral.”
“We support and encourage the expression of general outrage of our citizens, in accordance with the constitutionally guaranteed rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression,” he added.
The UP Manila campus sanctioned the scheduled walkout of students, who will participate in the ‘Black Friday’ protests on September 12, 2025.
In a Facebook post, UP Manila said its school administration “fully supports and endorses” the protest actions in at least three locations around the campus scheduled within the day.
“We are in solidarity with the UP Manila community in taking part in this collective action against corruption and impunity. We are for a transparent and accountable government,” the UP Manila said.
The UP Manila University Student Council organized a ‘walkout’ event followed by the White Colleges Protest Action at the University Library before assembling at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) parking lot.
Students, faculty, and employees of the UP Diliman converged at the Palma Hall steps on Friday for the campus-wide ‘Black Friday’ protest, which also denounced sweeping budget cuts for the schools under the UP administration.
The university incurred a ₱2.08-billion reduction in its 2025 budget—the steepest in two decades. For 2026, the Department of Budget and Management has proposed a ₱25.82-billion allocation for UP, just about half of the funding the institution had sought.
In separate statements, the UP Office of the Student Regent (OSR), the All UP Academic Employees’ Union (AUPAEU) Diliman, and the UP Diliman University Student Council (USC) called on the UP community to mobilize against what they described as chronic corruption, neglect of education, and the misuse of public funds.
The OSR criticized the approval of a ₱27.28-billion budget for the Office of the President, contrasting it with what they said was the government’s continued disregard for the needs of students and state universities.
A mass gathering of students raging against corruption will also take place at T.M. Kalaw corner Taft Avenue in Manila later this afternoon. All participants are encouraged to wear black.
“Beyond raging against corruption, we must also harness our education and training to provide solutions to the real problems of our people. As the University of the People, it is our overreaching moral responsibility,” Jimenez added in his statement.
