SENATOR Pia Cayetano has expressed strong support for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in urging higher education institutions to defer planned tuition increases, citing the need to ease the financial burden on Filipino families.

“I fully support CHED’s call for universities to hold off on tuition increases. Many families are already struggling with rising costs across the board. We must ensure that education remains accessible, especially during these challenging times,” Cayetano said.

The senator, who serves as Senior Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance and has overseen the education budget for six years, underscored that accessible education is key to breaking cycles of poverty and promoting intergenerational equity.

Cayetano noted that the government continues to strengthen support for higher education through programs such as the Tertiary Education Subsidy and increased funding for state universities and colleges.

She also highlighted the vital role of private institutions in keeping education within reach, expressing hope that they would work with the government to find ways to ease the burden on students while maintaining quality standards.

Cayetano commended CHED for maintaining open dialogue with higher education institutions, balancing their operational needs with the financial capacity of students and their families.

“I appreciate that CHED is engaging with HEIs on this matter. It’s important that we balance the operational needs of institutions with the capacity of families to afford education,” she said.

The senator likewise urged schools to explore alternative solutions to operational challenges without passing additional costs on to students.

“Education is the great equalizer. We cannot allow it to become a privilege that only the wealthy can afford,” Cayetano added.