The national government intends to slash the budget for state universities and colleges (SUCs) next year by around P14 billion, based on the data from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

According to the National Expenditure Program (NEP) submitted by the DBM to the Congress on Monday, July 29, the budget for SUCs in 2025 is P113.75 billion, lower by 12 percent compared to the P128.23 billion in total appropriations for the SUCs this year.

Of this amount, the bulk will go to personnel services, with P65.17 billion, maintenance and other operating expenses will receive P39.04 billion, and capital outlays or infrastructures will receive P9.54 billion.

Aside from SUCs, agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways also get a decrease of P97 billion, the Department of Health by P23 billion, the Department of Labor and Employment by P15 billion, and Congress by P12 billion.

DBM Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said these decreases were due to the amendments made by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, budget increases were noted in the Department of Transportation with P107 billion, the Department of Education with P31 billion, the Department of Interior and Local Government with P15.8 billion, and the Department of National Defense with P15.7 billion.

Department of Agriculture also had an increase of P14.7 billion, the Department of Finance with P5.6 billion, the Judiciary with P3.3 billion, and both Departments of Foreign Affairs and Agrarian Reform with P2.5 billion.

While the budget cuts and increases indicated in the NEP are still not final, they will assist Congress in the review and deliberation for the legislation of the annual appropriations measures for the next fiscal year.

Based on Article VI, Section 24, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Congress has the authority for “all appropriation, revenue or tariff bills, bills authorizing increase of the public debt, bills of local application, and private bills.”