The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is seeking an additional P17 billion in the proposed 2027 national budget to support free higher education for around 940,000 incoming students under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) program.
CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the funding is critical during the Senate finance committee’s hearing on the agency’s 2027 spending plan.
CHED initially requested P70.2 billion but was allocated only P35.4 billion under the National Expenditure Program, leaving a P34.8-billion gap.
After reconciling its projections with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Budget and Management, CHED revised its overall budget request to P27.46 billion, including P17.05 billion for critical and non-deferrable needs.
Agrupis said about 230,000 of the 940,000 students expected to benefit from the program are members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Source: PhilNews24 | September 26, 2026
