College Funds Secured: P12.3 Billion Allocated for Free Tuition in State Universities

The country just took a major step toward making quality, accessible college education a reality for all.

Thanks to a newly approved budget, free tuition in public colleges is now fully funded, ensuring that more Filipino students—especially those from low-income families—can finish their degrees without worrying about how to pay for school.

Also read: ETEEAP Act: Working Parents Can Now Finish College in a Year

Representative Chel Diokno announced the news on September 26, following a late-night session in Congress that concluded at 1 a.m. He called it a win for education and every student trying to reach their goals.

“1 AM na natapos ang budget deliberations ngayong gabi, pero sulit ang puyat para sa edukasyon,” Diokno posted.

Under the new budget, ₱12.3 billion has been set aside for the full implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Of that amount, ₱7.8 billion will go through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to cover tuition and other school fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs), as well as in qualified local universities and colleges (LUCs).

But it doesn’t stop at tuition. The government is also allocating ₱9.3 billion to support student assistance programs, including the Tulong Dunong Program and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)—financial aid that helps cover daily student expenses like transportation, books, and dorm rent.

This budget increase is a big deal for many families. More than 2.3 million students are already studying tuition-free in public universities, and hundreds of thousands receive subsidies through CHED. Now, with full funding secured, even more students can be included, and more can afford to stay in school and graduate.

To take advantage of these programs, students are encouraged to check if their school qualifies as a SUC or LUC and stay updated with CHED and UniFAST for application guidelines and deadlines.

Beyond the figures, this is about giving students the support they need to keep learning and keep going.

Click here for tips on how to grow your child’s college fund.