TACLOBAN CITY — A total of P9.753 billion has been released by the national government to help 108 state universities and colleges (SUCs) settle funding deficiencies incurred while implementing the Free Higher Education Program over the past three academic years.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) release is expected to ease financial pressures on the affected institutions and allow them to meet operational obligations while continuing to provide tuition-free education to qualified students.
The funding gaps accumulated as SUCs continued implementing the free higher education program despite delays in reimbursements, putting pressure on their limited resources and potentially affecting spending for classrooms, laboratories, libraries, research, faculty development and student services.
House Committee on Higher and Technical Education Chairperson Rep. Jude Acidre welcomed the release but called for a more timely and predictable funding mechanism for SUCs.
“Hindi sapat na libre ang matrikula kung ang mga pamantasang nagpapatupad nito ay kailangang maghintay nang matagal para sa pondong dapat nilang matanggap,” he said.
Acidre said government support for free higher education should extend to the institutions delivering the program to ensure that the quality of education is not compromised.
Acidre also urged the government to address the causes of funding delays, noting that the accumulation of deficiencies over three academic years highlights the need for a system that responds more quickly to actual enrollment and institutional requirements.
He expressed hope that the funds would be immediately downloaded to the concerned SUCs so they can address their financial and campus needs.
The Free Higher Education Program is implemented under Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides free tuition and other school fees to qualified students in SUCs and other covered public higher education institutions.
Acidre said sustaining the program requires continued support for students as well as adequate resources for the institutions providing their education.
“Our universities need that certainty to plan responsibly, sustain their operations, and protect the quality of education our students deserve,” he said.
The P9.753-billion release is expected to help stabilize the finances of the affected SUCs and support the continued implementation of the government’s free higher education program.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
