STATE universities and colleges (SUCs) across the country will get an additional P27.3 billion in funding this year under the 2024 General Appropriations Act, the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) said yesterday.
The group’s president, Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, said the amount will benefit 1.85 million students; more than 72,000 faculty members and staff; and more than 50,000 job order and contract workers.
“The allocation will also be needed for the payment of free higher education deficiencies in school years 2022 and 2023,” Ronquillo said.
Ronquillo said the additional funding came from the government’s unprogrammed funds.
“This would also provide adequate resources to SUCs to effectively perform its core mandates of instruction, research, community engagement and other public undertakings,” he added.
PASUC said the national government allotted P128.2 billion this year for the more than 100 SUCs nationwide. The amount is higher than the P100.9 billion requested by the SUCs under the 2024 National Expenditure Program.
Of the P128.2 billion, PASUC said P20.1 billion will be for capital outlay and the development of seven “smart campuses;” P7.06 billion for payment of free higher education deficiencies in 2022 and 2023; P5.3 billion for the construction, completion and rehabilitation of classrooms, academic buildings for 40 SUCs; P692 million for maintenance operating and other expenses for the establishment and support of 22 SUCs that have a College of Medicine; P273 million for the “Tulong Dunong” Program; and P232 million for the P2 million each across-the-board allocation to all SUCs for capacity development.
Also included are P115 million for the increase in the carrying capacity of nursing health programs of three SUCs; P100 million under the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund; P30 million as financial assistance to athletes and athletic programs of 16 SUCs; and P102 million for personnel services.
