₧44B in CHED budget for universal access

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has allocated P44.2 billion of its 2021 budget for the implementation of Republic Act 1093 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education.

During the briefing on the CHED’S P50.9 billion 2021 budget, CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera III said bulk or P44.2 billion of his agency’s allocation for next year has been allocated for free higher education; P4.7 billion for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE); P1.2 billion for the Higher Education Development Fund Staff; P465.5 million for personnel services; and P195.8 million for capital outlay.

CHED’S P50.9-billion proposed 2021 budget is higher than its 2020 budget of 47.9 billion.

De Vera said P15.3 billion worth of discontinued allocations due to National Budget Circular 580 were inserted in the 2021 National Expenditure Program in order to continue more education projects.

“In 2018, over 1.18 million students no longer pay for their tuition and miscellaneous fees in SUCS. This has increased to 1.3 million students in 2019 in 112 state universities and colleges, and 103 local universities and colleges,” De Vera said.

“The issue of access in the assessment of the commission has improved in terms of the students who are benefiting,” he said.

According to De Vera, the overall number of beneficiaries of free higher education is now 1.79 million students.

Besides the implementation of Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, other CHED programs that provide subsidy to students include student financial program, K to 12 transition program, research and scholarship project, information system strategic plan, Unifast, subsidy for medical students in SUCS, Legal Education Board, funding for SDG and Future Thinking, financial assistance to post graduate students, funding for improvement of quality english in tertiary level and funding for enhancement of social science programs.

Moreover, De Vera said enrollment in higher education has risen as the first graduates of K to 12 program entered the higher level, and the total enrollment both in public and private institutions has reached 3.4 million.

He, however, admitted that at least 40 small private colleges and universities impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns are stopping operations this year.

He said challenges that the CHED is continuously facing include capacity building for faculty members, connectivity issues and preparation for potential limited face to face classes in January 2021.

De Vera said disbursing funds for reimbursement of tuition and miscellaneous fees due is a big challenge for CHED due to to administrative and manpower issues.

CHED’S manpower is less than 1,000 and about 600 are plantilla positions nationwide. Meanwhile, Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago said 19 SUCS have cuts in their total budget next year.

She said these SUCS include Rizal Technological University, Bulacan State University, Batangas State University, Southern Philippines Agribusiness and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology, Catanduanes State University, Northwest Samar State University, Davao Oriental State University, Tarlac Agricultural University, Mindanao State University, Surigao State College of Technology, Zamboanga State College of Marine Sciences and Technology, Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology, Camarines Norte State College, Sultan Kudarat State University, Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Bataan Peninsula State University, Philippine Normal University, Tarlac State University and Carlos C. Hidalgo Memorial State Colllege.

Elago is asking the House to reverse the budget cuts of these SUCS.