The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P9.753 billion to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to settle standing financial deficiencies under the Free Higher Education (FHE) Program, granting significant financial relief to 108 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) nationwide.
Chargeable against the FY 2026 General Appropriations Act and the Higher Education Development Fund (SAGF-HEDF), the funds address unpaid government obligations spanning Academic Years 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025. Disbursement to beneficiary campuses will be facilitated by CHED through the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).
DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said that the capital infusion aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to prioritize public education while exercising strict fiscal prudence.
“Every peso in the national budget has competing demands. Our responsibility is to make sure that limited government resources are directed where they are most needed, without compromising other equally important programs and services. With this release, we are making nearly P10 billion available to address funding requirements of our state universities and colleges while maintaining that careful fiscal balance,” De Leon said.
The government’s FHE Program, established under Republic Act No. 10931 (the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act), waives tuition and secondary fees for students in qualified public institutions. However, delays in funding previously forced SUCs to cover operational shortfalls using their own institutional reserves.
By clearing these accumulated arrears, state universities can now reallocate their internal funds toward urgent campus upgrades, including library and laboratory modernization, IT infrastructure expansion, facility rehabilitation and student medical and counseling services.
De Leon stressed that assessing government support for higher education requires looking beyond base annual appropriations.
“This is nearly P10 billion in additional fiscal support for 108 SUCs. Kaya sa pagtingin sa kabuuang suporta ng gobyerno sa ating mga SUCs, hindi lamang isang budget line ang dapat tingnan,” De Leon explained, adding that settling past obligations gives universities necessary breathing room to focus on immediate academic needs.
Addressing broader economic constraints, the Budget Chief emphasized that responsible fiscal management requires strategic timing and prioritization.
“Hindi unlimited ang resources ng gobyerno. Kaya ang hamon sa atin ay hindi lamang gumastos, kundi tiyaking bawat pisong inilalabas ay napupunta sa tamang pangangailangan, sa tamang panahon, at nang hindi napapabayaan ang iba pang mahahalagang serbisyo ng pamahalaan,” he stated.
The DBM highlighted that the multi-billion-peso release reflects the administration’s broader commitment to human capital development, ensuring state universities remain fully equipped to support Filipino learners.
Beneficiary State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
The 108 state institutions benefiting from the P9.753-billion funding release cover main campuses and regional systems grouped across the country:
- National Capital Region (NCR):
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- Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology (EARIST)
- Marikina Polytechnic College (MPC)
- Philippine Normal University (PNU)
- Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP)
- Technological University of the Philippines (TUP)
- University of the Philippines System (UP System)
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- Ilocos Region (Region I):
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- Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU)
- Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC)
- Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU)
- University of Northern Philippines (UNP)
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- Cagayan Valley (Region II):
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- Batanes State College (BSC)
- Cagayan State University (CSU)
- Isabela State University (ISU)
- Nueva Vizcaya State University (NVSU)
- Quirino State University (QSU)
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- Central Luzon (Region III):
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- Aurora State College of Technology
- Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU)
- Bulacan Agricultural State College (BASC)
- Bulacan State University (BulSU)
- Central Luzon State University (CLSU)
- Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST)
- Pampanga State University
- Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA)
- President Ramon Magsaysay State University (PRMSU)
- Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU)
- Tarlac State University (TSU)
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- CALABARZON (Region IV-A):
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- Batangas State University (BatStateU)
- Cavite State University (CvSU)
- Laguna State Polytechnic University (LSPU)
- Southern Luzon State University (SLSU)
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- MIMAROPA (Region IV-B):
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- Marinduque State College (MSC)
- Mindoro State University (MinSU)
- Occidental Mindoro State College (OMSC)
- Palawan State University (PalSU)
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- Bicol Region (Region V):
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- Bicol State College of Applied Sciences and Technology (BISCAST)
- Bicol University (BU)
- Camarines Sur Polytechnic College (CSPC)
- Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA)
- Catanduanes State University (CatSU)
- Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT)
- Partido State University (ParSU)
- Sorsogon State University (SorSU)
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- Western Visayas (Region VI):
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- Aklan State University (ASU)
- Capiz State University (CAPSU)
- Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU)
- Guimaras State University (GSU)
- Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U)
- Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST)
- Northern Iloilo State University (NISU)
- University of Antique (UA)
- West Visayas State University (WVSU)
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- Central Visayas (Region VII):
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- Cebu Normal University (CNU)
- Cebu Technological University (CTU)
- Bohol Island State University (BISU)
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- Eastern Visayas (Region VIII):
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- Eastern Samar State University (ESSU)
- Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU)
- Leyte Normal University (LNU)
- Biliran Province State University (BiPSU)
- Northwest Samar State University (NwSSU)
- Palompon Institute of Technology (PIT)
- Samar State University (SSU)
- Southern Leyte State University (SLSU)
- University of Eastern Philippines (UEP)
- Visayas State University (VSU)
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- Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX):
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- J.H. Cerilles State College (JHCSC)
- Jose Rizal Memorial State University (JRMSU)
- Western Mindanao State University (WMSU)
- Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State University (ZPPSU)
- Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZSCMST)
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- Northern Mindanao (Region X):
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- Bukidnon State University (BukSU)
- Camiguin Polytechnic State College (CPSC)
- Central Mindanao University (CMU)
- Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology (NMSCST)
- University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) CDO
- University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (USTP) Claveria
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- Davao Region (Region XI):
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- Davao del Norte State College (DNSC)
- Davao Oriental State University (DORSU)
- Davao de Oro State College
- Davao del Sur State College
- Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST)
- University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP)
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- SOCCSKSARGEN (Region XII):
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- Cotabato Foundation College of Science and Technology (CFCST)
- Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU)
- South Cotabato State College
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- Caraga (Region XIII):
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- Caraga State University (CSU)
- Surigao Del Norte State University (SNSU)
- Surigao del Sur State University / North Eastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU)
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- Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR):
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- Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology (ASIST)
- Apayao State College (ASC)
- Benguet State University (BSU)
- Ifugao State University (IFSU)
- Kalinga State University (KSU)
- Mountain Province State Polytechnic College (MPSPC)
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- Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM):
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- Basilan State College
- Sulu State College (SSC)
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- Negros Island Region (NIR):
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- Negros Oriental State University
- Siquijor State College