THE HOUSE of Representatives has concluded plenary deliberations on the proposed 2027 budgets of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), including the University of the Philippines System.

House Appropriations Vice Chair and Makati Rep. Monique Yazmin Maria Lagdameo said the proposed P35.45-billion budget for CHED would support programs aimed at strengthening higher education institutions, advancing research and innovation, and expanding access to quality tertiary education.

Of the proposed allocation, P27.79 billion, or 78 percent, is earmarked for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) program, Lagdameo said.

The House also terminated deliberations on the proposed P141.09-billion budget for SUCs, which is P3.18 billion higher than their 2026 allocation.

Pinoy Workers Party-list Rep. Karl Legazpi described the proposed SUC budget as an investment in the future of Filipino students and their families.

He said that while the UAQTE program continues to expand access to higher education, the government must also ensure the quality of education by providing teachers with a supportive environment for teaching and research.

Legazpi co-sponsored the SUC budget with several other lawmakers during the plenary proceedings.