Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has committed to push for additional funding for state universities and colleges (SUC), including the construction of more classrooms and the sustained implementation of free higher education.

The commitment was announced during the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) annual convention and general assembly at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Monday.

PASUC president Tirso A. Ronquillo said Gatchalian assured SUC leaders of continued financial support to address the growing enrollment in public higher education institutions.

“Senate President Gatchalian committed to providing more financial support for the construction of academic buildings and additional classrooms because enrollment continues to increase and our universities need more learning spaces,” Ronquillo told Daily Tribune.

He said the Senate leadership also pledged to ensure sufficient funding for the implementation of the Free Higher Education Act.

“In previous years, there were funding shortfalls, but based on the commitment made, they want to ensure that there will no longer be deficiencies in financing free higher education in the coming years,” Ronquillo said.

Despite receiving a larger allocation this year, PASUC said the funding remains inadequate to meet the needs of SUCs.

“We received an increased budget this year, but it is still insufficient. In fact, we received less than half of what we requested from the government,” Ronquillo said.

He added that only about 20 percent of PASUC’s requested budget had been approved, with most of the allocation going to personnel services and maintenance and other operating expenses.

“Our capital outlay remains limited because of the government’s fiscal constraints. The government is tightening its belt, so support for infrastructure projects has been reduced,” he said.