Senator Kiko Pangilinan said he will back “additional funding” for state universities and colleges under the proposed 2026 national budget as he highlighted the alarming educational gaps among Filipinos of college age.
In his opening statement during the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the proposed 2026 budget for higher education, Pangilinan cited the EDCOM II report, which states that participation in higher education remains at a low 34.8% nationwide, and only 18% in the BARMM.
This is significantly lower than the 41.1% average in the Southeast Asian region.
“Hindi lang isang line item ang 2026 budget para sa higher education. Sagot natin ito sa mga kabataang Pilipino na nagnanais ng mas magandang kinabukasan,” the veteran legislator said.
“I’m ready to hear the presentations and ready to support interventions that will provide additional funding for our state colleges and universities,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
“Nearly four out of 10 students nationwide drop out before finishing their courses.”
The senator further lamented that nearly four out of 10 students nationwide drop out before finishing their courses, while 93.4% in BARMM fail to pursue higher education.
He also pointed out that despite expanding the Republic Act 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, SUCs have a depleted carrying capacity, with local universities and colleges offering “only a narrow band of programs–mostly education and business”.
“The reduced subsidy amount from P60,000 to P10,000 annually is not enough to fund a student’s tuition, living expenses, transportation, and books for a year.”
The “so-called reforms” in the tertiary education subsidy, Pangilinan said, also reduced the subsidy amounts from P60,000 to P10,000 annually, which is not enough to fund a student’s tuition, living expenses, transportation, and books for a year.
“Ang ibig sabihin: meron tayong henerasyon ng kabataan na pinutol ang mga pangarap. Nawalan tayo ng mga potensyal na guro, inhinyero, teacher, abogado, (at) health workers na kailangan ng ating bansa,” he concluded.
