The Senate has approved an additional P2.85 billion for the University of the Philippines (UP) during the third and final hearing of the proposed 2026 national budget, raising the state university’s allocation to P29.72 billion – its highest budget to date if finally enacted.

The increase builds on the P1-billion augmentation earlier granted by the House of Representatives, reflecting sustained congressional support for the country’s premier public university and its role in education, health services, and research.

A significant portion of the additional funding is earmarked for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), which will receive P1.04 billion to support its operations and services. The Institute of Civil Engineering is also set to benefit from a P250-million allocation for the establishment of a Wind Tunnel Facility for Typhoon Studies, aimed at strengthening disaster resilience and climate-related research.

Another P160 million has been allocated for the construction of a Coastal Engineering Laboratory at UP Diliman, which is expected to bolster studies on coastal protection, infrastructure, and climate adaptation.

The proposed UP budget will now move to the bicameral conference committee, and once finalized, the national budget will be submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for approval and signing into law.