Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) accepted only 3,000 out of more than 70,000 applicants for academic year 2026–2027 due to severe physical space and facility constraints, university officials announced Monday.

PLM president Atty. Domingo Y. Reyes Jr. revealed the admissions figures during Manila City Hall’s weekly flag-raising ceremony, noting that 43,000 hopefuls sat for the university entrance examination before final cuts were made.

“We had 70,000 applicants, 43,000 took the entrance exam, and we could only accept 3,000 because we no longer have the capacity to absorb more students,” Reyes said. “We apologize that we cannot accommodate everyone who wants to study at PLM.”

Reyes added that online admissions for the upcoming school year close 30 September, with over 65,000 applications already submitted.

To address class shortages, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso said that ground construction for PLM’s new Health Sciences Building is progressing steadily within the main campus grounds.

“Out of 340 foundation piles, we have already driven 132,” Domagoso said, adding that the city is utilizing structural innovation to maximize classroom capacity within the university’s existing footprint.

Reyes expressed gratitude to the Manila city government for disbursing P125 million in educational subsidies, which cover operational expenses and equipment for municipal scholars.

Domagoso affirmed that the local government will continue fully funding free higher education at PLM despite rising per-student costs.

“It is very expensive for the government to provide free tuition, but we will continue to do so,” Domagoso said. “It is worth every penny. The taxes of Manila’s citizens are being well spent.”