LIST: State universities and colleges’ proposed budgets for 2027

DEMONSTRATION. Students hold a protest at the University of the Philippines Cebu to denounce government corruption and political dynasties on February 19, 2026. Jacqueline Hernandez/Rappler The University of the Philippines System has a proposed allocation of P26.53 billion for next year, which is lower than the funding it received in the 2026 national budget The Marcos administration proposes a budget of P134.56 billion for state universities and colleges in 2027. The University of the Philippines System could receive P26.53 billion in 2027, down from P29.47 billion in 2026. This is AI-generated. Read the article for full context. Report any errors. MANILA, Philippines – The Marcos administration wants to provide P134.56 billion as funding for state universities and colleges (SUCs) in 2027, down from the 2026 budget of P137.9 billion. Including funding for retirement and life insurance premiums — an automatic appropriation or item already authorized by existing legislation — the figure would go up to P141.09 billion, according to the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP). If the proposed allocation for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is added, the budget for higher education next year would be at P176.5 billion. (READ: Top 10 agencies with biggest allocations in proposed 2027 budget) At the granular level, the country’s 113 SUCs would have different fates. The University of the Philippines (UP) System has P26.53 billion under the 2027 NEP, lower than the P29.47 billion it got in the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). The UP System’s budget last year was the largest it has ever received. The Hospital Services Program, where funding for the UP-Philippine General Hospital is sourced, is seen to have a budget cut next year. Under the 2027 NEP, the program is allocated P7.29 billion, an P805-million reduction from its P8.1-billion budget under the 2026 GAA. Funds for the university’s Research Program may also be slashed next year, as it is only allocated P829.61 million under the 2027 NEP, a significant decrease from the P1.76 billion under this year’s national budget. Here are the proposed allocations for the other programs of the UP System under the 2027 NEP: Higher Education Program – P11.69 billion Advanced Education Program – P1.92 billion Technical Advisory Extension Program – P445 million In a Palace press briefing on August 13, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said budget adjustments depend on the projects scheduled for a certain year. Castro said this was the explanation she got from the Department of Budget and Management. Listed below are the proposed 2027 budgets of the 113 SUCs. Meanwhile, the government is seeking a P61-billion allocation for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Program, which provides free tuition to qualified students enrolled in SUCs, local universities and colleges, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority institutions. For next year, the Marcos administration would like to set aside P1.6 billion for the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, lodged under CHED, to support 20,000 continuing scholars and 10,000 new beneficiaries. Budget deliberations are ongoing at the House appropriations committee level. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading