SENATE President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto has called for the rationalization of allocation for students in state colleges and universities as he bemoaned the unequal subsidy given to state scholars.

“Not all SUC students are funded equal,” Recto said. “Each may have different requirements, such as equipment backlog or staffing deficit which must be erased; the investments for which would differ from school to school.”

“What is clear is that the allocation should be rationalized and needs reworking based on updated and fair parameters,” he added.

The senator said that the allocation for students was calculated “on a per regional basis.”

“Data should be unbundled per school to have a clearer picture,” Recto said.

“I also believe that in the interest of transparency, a per student cost should be made part of an SUC’s budget submission and a national comparative table be included in the National Expenditure Program,” he added.

For 2021, the average allocation for each student in SUCs is P80,000.

“This is roughly based on the SUCs P80 billion appropriation and CHED funds for public school scholarships of P25 billion, or a total of P105 billion for 1.3 million students,” Recto explained.

“But students in private colleges get taxpayer subsidy too, at a rate of P60,000 each next year. Sila ‘yung 341,000 enrollees sa pribado na magbebenepisyo sa tuition subsidy na nagkakahalaga ng P20 billion,” he said.

College students in private colleges get subsidy under Republic Act 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Law.