Senator Loren Legarda demanded real funding for laws meant to strengthen the country’s education sector saying raising expectations through announcements and publicity that are not backed by actual funding would only give false hopes.

Legarda made clear her position on the matter during the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) 32nd Anniversary celebration on June 10, 2026 at the PICC Complex in Pasay City.

According to Legarda, laws are meant to provide solutions, not empty promises, and that it is unacceptable for programs to be debated, printed, and promoted only for students and institutions to later discover that resources were never released.

“Ginagawa ang batas para magbigay ng kalutasan sa ating mga problema, hindi lamang sa edukasyon, sa lahat ng sektor (The law is being made to provide solutions to our problems, not just in education, in all sectors),” Legarda emphasized.

As then chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Legarda recalled how she supported the realignment of ₱8-billion to CHED under the 2017 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

This allocation enabled around 800,000 students in 112 state universities and colleges, at that time, to pursue their degrees without paying tuition and miscellaneous fees.

She also recounted how during a consultative meeting with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) last year, it was revealed that funding for the Free College Education Act had consistently fallen short. Allocations were based on outdated enrollment figures rather than projected student numbers, leading to persistent deficits.

To bridge this gap, Congress allocated a total of ₱11.8 billion—₱7.8 billion through CHED’s Higher Education Development Fund and ₱4 billion under the 2026 GAA, the senator said.

“Advocacy, policies, and the work we do go beyond titles, go beyond designations and chairmanships, because there's so much work to do that we have to remain united in our vision and our mission to get it done,” Legarda said in her speech.

“I join our chair and all of you, the commissioners, and all of those present here today and online, in resolving political differences and shutting out all political noise and working for the betterment of our young learners and the Filipino people,” she stressed.

Moreover, Legarda said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) must use accurate projected student data in preparing the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and ensure that funds for the Free College Education Law are fully released.

She emphasized that the law should never be held back by incomplete or withheld allocations, as this undermines the promise made to Filipino learners.

As these funding challenges are addressed, the lawmaker then pointed to CHED’s ongoing reforms as proof of a learner‑centered direction, citing the agency’s Higher Education ACHIEVE Strategic Plan, the Revised CHED Merit Scholarship Program, and Project PAG‑IBIG as initiatives that expand opportunities for Filipino students.

“This celebration recognizes the work of our educators, of our researchers, of administrators, and students whose efforts continue to shape our country's future,” she noted.

“As your steadfast partner in the Senate, I reaffirm my support for policies and investments that empower our learners, that strengthen institutions and advance national development,” she reiterated.