SENATOR Bam Aquino vowed to push for the restoration of capital outlay funds for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as the Senate deliberates on the proposed 2026 national budget.

Aquino underscored the crucial role of SUCs in providing affordable and quality education to Filipino youth, stressing that adequate funding is essential to sustain their operations and meet the growing demand for higher education.

“Capital outlay is essential to ensure that our SUCs can continue to expand, upgrade, and innovate,” Aquino said.

Batangas State University president Tirso Ronquillo revealed that under the proposed 2026 SUCs budget amounting to ₱128 billion, capital outlay suffered a steep cut of ₱7.83 billion, or more than 45 percent.

He warned that the reduction could hinder SUCs’ efforts to maintain access, quality, and innovation in higher education.

Ronquillo also emphasized that SUCs significantly contribute to the country’s workforce, producing an average of 350,000 graduates annually.

Capital outlay refers to government spending on long-term assets such as buildings, equipment, and infrastructure—investments that provide sustained benefits and strengthen the institutional capacity of SUCs.

Aquino said the Senate will work to restore these critical funds to enable SUCs to fulfill their mandate of delivering inclusive and high-quality education nationwide.