MANILA, Philippines, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Thousands of students and teachers took to the streets in the Philippines Wednesday to protest feared higher education budget cuts.
In Querzon City, anti-riot police clashed with demonstrators attempting to block President Benigno Aquino III's convoy from entering a university campus, the Philippines' ABS-CBN news reported.
Aquino was headed to the University of the Philippines-Ayala Technohub to attend the inauguration of three new service delivery facilities.
In Manila demonstrations took place in a number of different locations in the metro area.
Budget Secretary Butch Abad said earlier his department has allocated more money for the country's 100 universities and colleges in the government's 2011 budget.
However, the bulk of the additional funds are for increasing teacher salaries.
What has been cut, Abad said, were funds added by Congress for maintenance, operating expenses and capital outlays.
Student demonstrators say they will continue protesting until Aquino signs the national budget.
