113 SUCs receive P27.3 billion budget increase for 2024
FILE PHOTO: Don Severino Agricultural College, a state college in the province of Cavite, was converted into a state university by Republic Act No. 8468 and is now known as Cavite State University (CvSU). In 2001, through Commission of Higher Education Memorandum No. 27 of 2000, the Cavite College of Fisheries in Naic and the Cavite College of Arts and Trade in Rosario were integrated into the university. CvSU offers around 100 curricular programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. With over 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff, the university operates 11 campuses. The main campus of the college has a land area of 70 hectares and is located in Indang. PHOTO FFROM CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY FB PAGE
MANILA, Philippines — An organization of 113 state universities and colleges nationwide has received a P128.2 billion allocation for this year, which it said is P27.3 billion higher than the initially proposed budget.
Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, president of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), expressed his gratitude to House Speaker Martin Romualdez for helping his organization secure the additional funding.
In a two-page letter dated January 10, Ronquillo also thanked Romualdez for utilizing “unprogrammed funds” that will be needed to pay for free higher education (FHE) deficiencies in school years 2022 and 2023.
“We stand united with the Honorable Speaker in his unwavering commitment to prudent allocation of government resources. Your legislative support shall empower the 113 SUCs to deliver meaningful services to the country and its people,” Ronquillo’s letter read.
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The lawmaker said in a statement on Sunday that the allocation sourced from the “unprogrammed funds” consists of the following:
- P20.1 billion as capital outlay for the “digital transformation” or “smart campus system for seven SUCs
- P7 billion for payment of FHE deficiencies in 2022 and 2023
- P5.3 billion for the “construction, completion or rehabilitation of classrooms, dormitories” for 40 SUCs.
- P692 million under the maintenance operating and other expenses for the establishment and support of 22 SUCs that have a “College of Medicine”
- P232 million from the P2 million each across the board to all SUCs for “Capacity Development on Futures Thinking and Strategic Foresight”
- P273 million for the SUCs’ “Tulong Dunong program”
- P115 million for the increase in carrying capacity of nursing health programs of three SUCs, P100 million under the MPBF (miscellaneous personnel benefits fund) for the implementation of the reclassification of faculty positions
- P30 million as “financial assistance to athletes and athletic programs” of 16 SUCs
- P102 million is allotted for PS (personnel services), P465 million for the yearly MOOE, and P43 million for capital outlay.
Ronquillo reported that the “beneficiaries” of the P27.3 billion budgetary increase are:
- 1.85 million students enrolled in SUCs nationwide
- 72,000 faculty and staff
- 50,000 job orders and contract of service workers
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For his part, Romualdez likewise assured the organization of the government’s efforts to prioritize the budget for state-run educational institutions.
