28/09/2026
๐ฃ๐ต.๐ณ๐ฑ๐ฏ ๐๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ญ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐: ๐๐น๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฎ๐ฝ
CHED is closing a major funding gap in Free Higher Education, covering P9.753 billion in validated deficiencies of 104 state universities and colleges (SUCs) for Academic Years 2022-2023 to 2024-2025.
The Commission, with Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis at the helm, conducted todayโs Affirmation of Compliance and Commitment to Settle the Free Higher Education Deficiency at the House of Representatives, joined by House Speaker Faustino โBojieโ Dy III (6th District, Isabela), Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander โSandroโ Marcos III (1st District, Ilocos Norte), Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand โDinandโ Hernandez (2nd District, South Cotabato), and House Committee on Appropriations Chair Mikaela Angela โMikaโ Suansing (1st District, Nueva Ecija), together with SUC leaders from across the country. The gathering marked the national governmentโs action to address costs previously absorbed by SUCs in delivering Free Higher Education.
The Department of Budget and Management released the funding to CHED in August. To date, P6.6 billion has already been disbursed to SUCs, with the remaining payments being processed as institutions complete the necessary requirements.
Representing SUCs across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, checks were presented to the University of the Philippines System, Eastern Visayas State University, and the University of Southeastern Philippines.
Settling these deficiencies supports both sides of Free Higher Education: students continue to benefit from free tuition and other school fees, while SUCs recover costs they had absorbed in delivering these benefits. This helps relieve pressure on university resources and strengthens the sustainability of Free Higher Education.
Beyond clearing the existing gap, CHED is working with Congress to ensure that future Free Higher Education requirements are adequately provided for in the annual national budget โ helping prevent similar deficiencies from accumulating again.
For CHED, Free Higher Education must remain both accessible to students and sustainable for the institutions that deliver it.