Nearly half of state universities to face budget cuts in 2027

MANILA — Almost half of the Philippines' state universities and colleges face reduced budget allocations under the government's spending plan for 2027, according to the Department of Budget and Management. The DBM's National Expenditure Program, submitted to Congress on August 11, will result in lower funding for 49 of the 113 state universities and colleges operating nationwide. The budget reductions affect approximately 43.46 percent of the country's public higher education sector. The proposed cuts come amid broader fiscal constraints facing the government as it balances competing budgetary priorities. Officials have not yet provided detailed breakdown of which institutions will be affected most severely or the extent of individual budget reductions. The 2027 budget proposal remains under legislative review as Congress evaluates the government's spending priorities for the coming year.