36 SUCs seek more budget
It is also nearly P7 billion, or 5 percent, lower than the SUCs received in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, amounting to P107.037 billion.
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Daily TribuneIt is also nearly P7 billion, or 5 percent, lower than the SUCs received in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, amounting to P107.037 billion.
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A total of 36 state universities and colleges have appealed to Congress not only to reinstate the P6-billion budget cut in their proposed budget for 2024, but to provide them additional funding.
In a joint statement sent to Kabataan Rep. Raoul Manuel, the SUCs reminded lawmakers that education "is a fundamental right that should be accessible to all, regardless of socio-economic status."
"It plays a vital role in empowering individuals and shaping a just society," it added. "However, the current state of our education system fails to adequately cater to the needs of our students due to inadequate financial support."
Most of the reductions were for capital outlay, including facilities, equipment, and other investments that will benefit the institutions beyond the next fiscal year, according to the SUCs.
Under the National Expenditure Program submitted by the DBM to Congress, SUCs were given a P100.88-billion budget for 2024, less than a third of the P331.3 billion the institutions initially requested.
It is also nearly P7 billion, or 5 percent, lower than the SUCs received in the 2023 General Appropriations Act, amounting to P107.037 billion.
Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges president Dr. Tirso Ronquillo lamented that the budget cut comes amid their expected high turnout of students at 1,803,359, or about 50,000 more from last school year.
"Additional budget is needed for our learning institutions to regain their public character and provide ample support for student services and faculty development. If our state universities and colleges are to be expected to do their duties, they must be funded accordingly," the 36 SUCs said.
Manuel filed House Resolution 1325 last Friday, urging the House Committee on Appropriations to restore the cuts in the total allocated budget for SUCs in the 2024 proposed budget.
The signatories in the joint statement were Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Philippine Normal University, Technological University of the Philippines, Central Luzon State University, Cavite State University, Davao del Sur State College, Caraga State University, Mariano Marcos State University, Samar State University, Palawan State University, Mindanao State University-Sulu, Batangas State University, and President Ramon Magsaysay State University.
There are 117 SUCs in the Philippines.
