The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) issued guidelines to release P12.31 billion [1] for free college programs.

This funding is intended to plug financial gaps within state universities and colleges (SUCs). Ensuring these institutions have stable funding is critical for maintaining the accessibility of higher education for students across the Philippines.

The guidelines, released on Monday, establish the framework for how the P12.31 billion [1] will be distributed. The allocation specifically targets funding deficiencies that have accumulated within the government's free college program, which aims to remove tuition barriers for eligible students.

By coordinating the release of these funds, CHED and the DBM aim to stabilize the operational budgets of SUCs. This move is designed to ensure that the promise of free tertiary education is backed by the necessary fiscal resources to support student enrollment, and institutional maintenance.

The program's focus remains on addressing the shortfall in government subsidies provided to these public institutions. The implementation of these rules allows for a more structured disbursement of the P12.31 billion [1] to the affected universities.

“P12.31 billion to address funding deficiencies”

The release of these guidelines indicates a corrective effort by the Philippine government to resolve systemic underfunding in its public education sector. By addressing the P12.31 billion gap, the state is attempting to prevent a decline in the quality of instruction and infrastructure at state universities that may have occurred due to budget shortfalls.