The University of the Philippines (UP) has been hit with a substantial blow as more than half a billion pesos has been deducted from its proposed fund for the year 2024. This significant reduction in funding is expected to have a notable impact on the university’s scholarship programs and daily operations.

The development came to light during a Senate hearing on the 2024 budget for the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and state universities and colleges (SUCs). UP System president Angelo Jimenez revealed that a staggering P564 million was removed from the university’s original proposal of P40.8 billion, leaving them with only P21.29 billion, which is less than 47% of their initial request in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

The severe cut in UP’s proposed funding has raised concerns about the potential repercussions for students, faculty, and the overall quality of education at one of the country’s premier educational institutions. Scholarship programs, which are crucial in providing opportunities to underprivileged students, are expected to be particularly impacted.

As UP grapples with this significant budget reduction, discussions about the future of higher education funding in the Philippines have gained renewed urgency, highlighting the need for sustainable support for the country’s leading universities.

“Much of the reduction from the university under the NEP would directly impact training and scholarship expenses, utilities, supplies, and materials, maintenance and other operating expenses—in other words, our day to day operations of the existing university,” Angelo Jimenez said.

The UP president pointed out that the university boasts a student body of 65,000, encompassing both undergraduate and graduate students, with approximately 18,000 personnel stationed across the nation.