Legislators are advocating for additional funding to implement free higher education in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs).
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concern over insufficient funding, highlighting that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) based its funding allocations on enrollment figures from two years ago.
He stated that this approach has led to funding shortfalls, leaving many students without adequate financial support, especially as the number of student beneficiaries has continued to rise in recent years.
“At the proper time, I will introduce an amendment to include the budget of the different SUCs totaling P3 billion to address the deficiency. We will recommend to the committee the list of SUCs that are in need of additional income so they can accommodate the students enrolling in their universities. We will submit the breakdown of the SUCs to the committee,” Gatchalian said.
Senate Senior Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor Ejercito also expressed his full support for increasing the budget for SUCs, particularly for the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).
“You can count on me to personally support your efforts to provide diplomas to more young Filipinos,” Ejercito stated, noting that he has already submitted a proposed amendment to enhance PUP’s funding.
Ejercito described PUP as a crucial institution that offers quality education to thousands of students. He referenced recent data to emphasize its impact on creating opportunities for graduates.
“Thousands of graduates join the Philippine workforce each year, thanks to this institution’s commitment to high-quality education. Last academic year alone, 19,230 graduates benefited from its programs,” Ejercito reported.
“Since 2016, PUP graduates have been the top choice among employers, which reflects the institution’s excellence.” Ejercito commended PUP’s performance in licensure exams, noting a passing rate of 93.33% in the Architecture Board Exams, significantly above the national average.
“PUP’s Iskos and Iskas are thriving in professions such as Engineering, Education, Psychology, Accountancy, and Law,” he added.
Recognizing the transformative power of education in improving lives, Ejercito pledged to support SUCs in their mission to provide affordable education to more Filipinos.
