While others continue to raise their school fees, University of Iloilo-Phinma announced it will decrease tuition fees in the incoming school year by as much as 20 percent.

“We will have a decrease in all our school fees including tuition, laboratory and other miscellaneous fees for school year 2013-2014,” Dr. Chito Salazar, UI-Phinma president declared during the Students’ General Assembly held yesterday.

Despite having the lowest tuition fees in the city, Salazar noted that they aim not just to encourage more students to enter their school, but to help them finish their degrees.

“Our first goal is to make sure our present students graduate,” Salazar stressed.

With this, their regular rates of P420 to P460 per unit will now be at P400 to P437.

In effect, second year to fourth year students could enjoy five percent discounts on their tuition and at least 40 percent on other fees while incoming freshmen can enjoy discounts ranging from 10 to 20 percent.

He said that despite the low tuition fees, most are still hesitant to enter college due to misconceptions that they could not finish it.

As of now, UI has around 6,000 students and will have its first set of graduates since it was placed under the Phinma Education Network in 2009.

In addition, UI offers various scholarship programs for less fortunate students.

Meanwhile, Ashley Jane Estrera, 25, a junior taking up Business Administration, said that the announcement is already an assurance for her to graduate.

Since her parents could not sustain her studies, Ashley, a native of Antique, decided to take up a vocational course – Nursing Attendance – at the Integrated Midwives Association of the Philippines.

After her elder sibling finished college, Ashley decided to go back to school to have a four-year degree.

She works part-time as a nursing assistant at West Visayas Medical Center.

From Monday to Thursday, she’s focused on school work. Instead of having a break, Ashley works 12 hours every Friday to Sunday to help sustain her studies and other needs.

“Though it is rewarding to have a job, I think having a four-year degree will open more opportunities for me,” Ashley said.*