This will be used to fund programs and initiatives under the Free Higher Education Program of the government.
Under the government’s Free Higher Education Program, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated PhP9.753 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to address the gap in funding of 108 state universities and colleges (SUCs).
During a Palace press briefing on Monday, August 17, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that the funding comes from appropriations under the Fiscal Year 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the Special Account in the General Fund–Higher Education Development Fund (SAGF-HEDF).
The DBM, for its part, said the release shall apply to the arrears covering Academic Years 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025.
The fund will provide SUCs with funding support for costs incurred in implementing the government’s Free Higher Education Program, with CHED, through the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), to facilitate the corresponding release of funds to the concerned SUCs in accordance with the applicable guidelines.
Thhe DBM listed the allowable uses of the find such as strengthening academic and research programs, improving student services, upgrading laboratories, libraries and information technology resources, maintaining and improving learning facilities, supporting medical, dental, guidance, athletic and cultural services.
Also, still subject to applicable budgeting, accounting and auditing rules and the availability of the appropriate funds, these can be used to undertake the rehabilitation, improvement or expansion of academic and other university facilities.
Under Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, the law recognizes many of these services and facilities as integral to the delivery of quality higher education, and requires SUCs to maintain development plans that include facilities and infrastructure development and expansion.
“Mahalaga ang hakbang na ito ng pamahalaan bilang tugon sa hangarin ng Pangulo na i-prayoridad ang edukasyon, ngunit kailangang tiyakin na maingat at responsable ang paggamit ng pondo ng gobyerno,” Castro added.
For his part, DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert De Leon noted: “With this release, we are making nearly 10 billion pesos available to address funding requirements of our state universities and colleges while maintaining that careful fiscal balance.”
He also underscored, that this funding allows the government to honor validated commitments ro SUCs, while also protecting the government’s capacity to fund other national priorities.
De Leon said the release underscores the government’s continuing support for public higher education. “Prayoridad natin ang mga SUCs. By settling obligations they had to absorb in previous academic years, we are giving them fiscal space to focus their resources om what their campuses need…” he said.
The FHE Program, established under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, provides free tuition and other school fees in SUCs and CHED-recognized local universities and colleges that looks to significantly reduce the cost of tertiary education for Filipino students and their families.
