Benedict Maravilla

Amid claims of inequality in the University of the Philippines (UP), the president, Angelo Jimenez, affirmed that the university is not “burgis” anymore.

Photo Courtesy of UP Diliman/Philippine Information Agency.

During UP’s budget hearing with the Senate subcommittee for finance, Jimenez presented that 56 percent of the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) 2024 qualifiers came from public schools, six percent higher than that in 2023.

“So it’s no longer true na burgis ang UP…56 percent already come from public high schools in our country today,” the president said.

Jimenez said that the reason for this is the opening of more UPCAT centers in 115 provinces which catered to more students across the country.

According to the UP Statistics, among the qualifiers of the UPCAT 2024, 44 percent are from private schools.

The statistics also recorded that qualifiers with families having an annual gross income of at most 500,000-pesos occupy 47 percent of the population; while those incomes are above the said range account to nearly 50 percent of the qualifiers.

Jimenez added that the university is making efforts in making UP education more accessible to the students.

UP’s “burgis” issue has recently been making rounds on the internet and causing stir among netizens.

The issue is centered on questioning the presence of ‘many’ upper class students in UP despite them having the means to study in private universities, that their slots shall be given to the less fortunate students.