THE UNIVERSITY of the Philippines System is facing a P2.5 billion budget cut next year, data from the National Expenditures Program showed.

Based on the NEP submitted by the Department of Budget and Management to the House of Representatives, the proposed budget for UP system in 2023 was P21.85 billion, down from this year’s P24.39 billion.

Among the special provisions cited in the budget document was that a legal research fund shall be used in support of the UP Law Center sourced from 1% of the filing fees collected by courts, as well as agencies or tribunals exercising quasi-judicial functions.

The proposed budget for the Philippine General Hospital under the UP system also went down by P893 million.

While the provision for medical indigents remained at P518.2 million, the Hospital Services Program allocation went down from P6.305 billion in 2022 to P5.412 billion in 2023.

Earlier, DBM Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said health and education are among the top priorities of the Marcos administration.

The education sector is set to receive P852.8 billion.

However, majority of this will be allocated to the Department of Education with P710.6 billion, up 12.20% from P633.3 billion in 2022.

Aside from the DepEd, funding for the sector also covers the state universities and colleges, the Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.