Gwyneth Perseveranda

The budget sponsor of Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) Representative Janette Garin suggested that the unneeded confidential and intelligence funds be redirected to boost state college and universities’ (SUCs) budget instead. 

Photo Courtesy of CHED/UP Diliman/CNU.

She raised the proposal during the house budget hearing on Sept. 19, wherein an approximately P14 billion will be diminished from the budget of SUCs, feasibly affecting various programs and other educational subsidies.

ACT Teachers Partylist Representative France Castro called for a higher budget allocation for state colleges and universities (SUCs), following proposed budget cuts in next year’s National Expenditure Program.

Castro reiterated that these cuts may put constraints on the number of students enrolled and reduce the number of scholarships and financial aid, potentially undermining the quality of tertiary education.

“There is no actual budgetary cut. However, there were programs… and infrastructure programs that will actually start and be finished in a certain particular year. In this case, the projects finished by 2024 cannot be funded by 2025 anymore,” Garin responded.

Garin suggested that the confidential funds that are no longer needed be transferred to scholarships.

“Once it is done, kagaya ng mga pondong confidential funds na hindi kailangan o mga opisina na hindi naman kalawak ang gagawin, ‘yun ang pwedeng idagdag bilang (funds) for scholarships,” Garin reiterated. 

She also noted that the ongoing deliberation for the NEP 2025 includes consideration for initiatives, such as the ISIP program, which aims to expand scholarship opportunities.

While the program is not included in the current 2025 NEP, it will be noted in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

 “In other words, hindi natapyasan at hindi siya tatapyasan. Dadagdagan pa at the appropriate time,” she added.

It was previously highlighted that the Department of Budget (DBM) has approved SUCs a budget of P113.75 billion, a reduction from last year’s P128.13 billion.

This cut has raised concerns among Rep. Castro and heads from majors SUCs, including University of the Philippines System and Polytechnic University of the Philippines.