Senators on Friday signaled the possible augmentation of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) 2027 budget after the agency pared its additional funding appeal to PHP27.46 billion following a recalibration of its priorities.

During the Senate budget hearing, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the commission originally proposed PHP70.28 billion but received PHP35.45 billion under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

Senator Joel Villanueva, who presided over the hearing, immediately flagged the reduction from CHED’s current funding level.

“Yung last year na GAA (Last year’s GAA was), Mr. Chairman, PHP48 billion, ngayon (now) PHP35 billion… About PHP12.9 billion decrease,” Villanueva said.

After consultations with the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and higher education institutions, CHED identified PHP27.46 billion in additional requirements.

Of the amount, PHP17.05 billion is for critical and non-deferrable programs, PHP2.85 billion for strategic higher education investments, and PHP7.56 billion for institutional requirements of state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges.

“Considering the fiscal space now, nagsang-ayon po kami na bawasan (we agreed to reduce it),” Agrupis said.

She, however, noted that CHED could no longer further trim the PHP17-billion requirement for critical programs, much of which would support the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education program.

“Wala na kami pong itatawad pa, hindi na po kami nagpapatawad. PHP17 billion ang kailangan namin (We can no longer reduce it further. We need PHP17 billion),” Agrupis said.

CHED estimated that 940,000 existing and incoming students could be affected if the funding requirement is not provided.

Agrupis said the figure covers both currently enrolled and incoming students, including qualified beneficiaries in state, local, and private higher education institutions.

Senator Bam Aquino said lawmakers would examine the possible augmentation as the proposed budget moves through Congress.

“We hope to augment, we hope to increase, we hope to bolster, we hope to strengthen all of the budgets that go to you,” Aquino said.

Senate Committee on Finance Chair, Senator JV Ejercito, likewise acknowledged the limited fiscal space but assured higher education institutions that lawmakers would try to address funding gaps.

“Gagawan po natin ng paraan (We will find a way),” Ejercito said. (PNA)