Senator Bam Aquino urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) to ensure sufficient funding for the projected 2.27 million students enrolling in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in 2026.
He highlighted a ₱3.29-billion funding gap due to mismatched enrollment projections and budget allocations.
Aquino emphasized that enrollment projections and Free Higher Education funding must align to avoid shortfalls and support increased enrollment.
He assured that the Committee on Basic Education, with backing from the Committee on Finance, will work to restore and increase SUCs’ budget in the proposed 2026 national budget.
Aquino also stressed the importance of prioritizing education funding and reallocating resources from less critical areas to support students and schools.
Source: PhilNews24 | September 28, 2025
