SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is pushing for additional funding to address the looming ₱3 billion budget deficit for the implementation of free higher education next fiscal year.

The National Expenditure Program proposes a budget of ₱23.38 billion for free higher education. However, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) estimates that ₱27.078 billion is needed to fully implement the program for School Year 2025-2026, leaving a ₱3.697 billion shortfall.

Gatchalian’s office, factoring in inflation, projects that ₱27.3 billion is required, raising the budget gap to as much as ₱3.9 billion.

Gatchalian emphasized that if the deficit remains unaddressed, state universities and colleges (SUCs) will struggle to hire more instructors, purchase necessary learning equipment, and build additional facilities to ensure quality tertiary education.

“Yung nilalagay nating pera sa free higher education, ang kapalit nun ay diploma. The free higher education will yield the country more students who will graduate with a diploma, enabling them to secure meaningful jobs,” said Gatchalian, a co-author and co-sponsor of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act No. 10931), also known as the Free Higher Education Law.

“So maybe later on we can request the Chairperson of the Finance Committee kung pwedeng kumurot ng kaunti sa pondo ng ayuda. Ang hinihingi naman ng SUCs ay ₱3 billion in addition, kaya kukurot lang tayo do’n sa ₱591.8 billion na pondo ng mga programang pang ayuda,” he added, referring to programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers, and the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

Gatchalian also highlighted that free higher education has significantly boosted enrollment. From 2.9 million in SY 2017-2018, before the law’s enactment, enrollment surged to 5.09 million for SY 2023-2024.