Senator Win Gatchalian assured that the 2026 national budget will cover the ₱12.3 billion funding shortfall for free higher education accumulated from 2022 to 2025.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance, also guaranteed that the upcoming budget will address the projected ₱3.33 billion funding gap for 2026, as estimated by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC).
To prevent recurring shortfalls, he urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to agree on a clear formula that aligns projected enrollment with per-student costs.
Gatchalian stressed that budget gaps in past years have hindered SUCs from investing in facilities, programs, and projects critical to delivering quality tertiary education.
