The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releases about PHP 9.75 billion to support the Free Higher Education (FHE) Program for 108 state universities and colleges (SUCs). DBM says the funds cover a funding gap needed to implement the program and address arrears for academic years 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025.
DBM reports that the released amount is meant to provide SUCs support for the costs they incur in implementing FHE. One outlet adds that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) receives the funds to settle costs SUCs previously shouldered using their own institutional resources. Across both reports, the funding releases are tied to settling FHE-related expenses for the specified academic years, with CHED/UniFAST involved in facilitating releases to SUCs under existing processes.
