SENATOR Joel Villanueva has raised concerns over the proposed cuts in the 2027 budgets of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and state universities and colleges (SUCs), stressing the need for adequate funding to sustain quality and accessible tertiary education.

During Friday’s Senate Committee on Finance hearing, Villanueva said CHED’s proposed 2027 budget stands at ₱35.453 billion, or ₱12.916 billion lower than its 2026 allocation.

Meanwhile, SUCs have a proposed obligation budget of ₱141.090 billion, down by ₱2.979 billion from the current year’s allocation.

Villanueva said the government’s education budget should aim to improve the quality of education while expanding access for Filipino students.

He stressed that while college education may be free, higher education institutions must have adequate resources to deliver quality instruction. Scholarships and subsidies should also reach students who need them most.

The senator added that the proposed budget should provide sufficient support for higher education institutions and the personnel who help students complete their degrees.