Students of the University of San Carlos (USC) in Cebu protested on January 23 to oppose the proposed Tuition and Other Fee Increase (TOFI) in the university. Progressive groups and parties at USC led the action on the campus in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City. The USC Supreme Student Council also joined the protest. The council plans to hold a “consultation” with students and parents regarding the TOFI.

The USC administration informed the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region VII on December 11, 2025, of its plan to impose a tuition increase. No hike percentage has yet been set under the proposal. The university justifies the move by citing rising educational costs and salaries for USC teachers and staff. In the 2023–2024 academic year alone, USC raised tuition and other fees by 6.95%.

“The looming TOFI worsens the financial burden on students already struggling, especially after the recent calamities in Cebu,” Anakbayan-USC, Gabriela Youth-USC, Kabataan Party-list USC, and the Student Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy-USC jointly stated. The students added that the unjust tuition hike and the questionable, nontransparent university fees violate the right to accessible and humane education.

At the same time, the four organizations and parties clarified that while they support the call of the College Faculty Independent Union (CFIU) for just wage increases for the welfare of the faculty, these should not be taken from students’ pockets. “Salary increases should be granted without passing the burden onto students and with full transparency and accountability on imposed fees,” their statement added.

An Anakbayan-USC member at the protest explained that it is unacceptable that an increasing number of USC students are being forced to drop out because of rising school fees. “Is it right that families struggle each year while school services remain unchanged?” Jañina said.

The groups called on fellow students to resist the TOFI and defend their democratic rights on campus. They also denounced police surveillance during the campus protest and the flight of a drone in the area.