To ensure scholarships benefit deserving Filipino youths instead of fueling political patronage, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Tuesday pushed for added funds for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) in the 2026 budget.
During the period of amendments for the 2026 budget bill, Lacson sought to delete the budget for the “resurrected” Tulong Dunong Program from the budget of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and transfer P2,727,746,000 to the TES.
“With the passage of Republic Act No. 10931 (RA 10931), or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017, Tulong Dunong, as a separate program, was ultimately deleted and merged under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). However, the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations and subsequent appropriations resurrected the Tulong Dunong Program. Though not recommended by the National Expenditure Program, Tulong Dunong is now included in the General Appropriations Bill,” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson, Isinulong ang Dagdag na Pondo para sa Tertiary Education Subsidy
Lacson cited data from CHED showing a P34.6-billion funding gap in the CHED due to a lack of funds for the TES. Because of this, 2.312 million students could not be accommodated for scholarships.
This enormous funding gap in the TES is thus “a strong case against creating a separate program, like Tulong Dunong, when the primary need is not even fully funded,” he said.
Earlier during the period of interpellation, Lacson noted that Tulong Dunong had zero funding in the National Expenditure Program, but the House version of the budget bill added P2.727 billion to it.
Lacson had scored the Tulong Dunong education scholarships for being arbitrarily given out by lawmakers. The Tertiary Education Subsidy program is administered by the CHED.
Meanwhile, Lacson sought added funding for education programs including an increase of P30 million for the University of the Philippines NCPAG Governance Reform, Innovation and Transformation Collaboratory (GRIT Labs).
He also pushed for an increase of P28.5 million for the Development Academy of the Philippines, to support the DAP-Graduate School of Public and Development Management.
*****
Lacson, Isinulong ang Dagdag na Pondo para sa Tertiary Education Subsidy
Upang matiyak na ang mga scholarship ay mapupunta sa mga karapat-dapat na kabataang Pilipino at hindi magamit sa pamumulitika, itinulak ni Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes ang dagdag na pondo para sa Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) sa 2026 budget.
Sa period of amendments para sa 2026 budget bill, hiniling ni Lacson na tanggalin ang pondo para sa biglang nabuhay na “Tulong Dunong” Program mula sa budget ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) at ilipat ang P2,727,746,000 sa TES.
“With the passage of Republic Act No. 10931 (RA 10931), or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017, Tulong Dunong, as a separate program, was ultimately deleted and merged under the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). However, the Fiscal Year 2023 Appropriations and subsequent appropriations resurrected the Tulong Dunong Program. Though not recommended by the National Expenditure Program, Tulong Dunong is now included in the General Appropriations Bill,” aniya.
Binanggit ni Lacson ang datos mula sa CHED na nagpapakitang may P34.6-bilyong funding gap sa TES dahil sa kakulangan ng pondo. Dahil dito, 2.312 milyon na estudyante ang hindi ma-accommodate para sa scholarships.
Ang napakalaking kakulangan sa TES ay dahilan laban sa pagbuo ng hiwalay na programa tulad ng Tulong Dunong, “when the primary need is not even fully funded,” aniya.
Nauna nang napuna ni Lacson sa period of interpellation na zero ang pondo ng Tulong Dunong sa National Expenditure Program, ngunit nagdagdag ang House version ng budget bill ng P2.727 bilyon para dito.
Minsan nang tinuligsa ni Lacson ang Tulong Dunong dahil sa arbitraryong pamimigay nito ng ilang mambabatas. Ang Tertiary Education Subsidy program ay pinangangasiwaan ng CHED.
Samantala, hiniling din ni Lacson ang dagdag na pondo para sa ilang education programs, kabilang ang P30 milyon na dagdag para sa University of the Philippines NCPAG Governance Reform, Innovation and Transformation Collaboratory (GRIT Labs).
Itinulak din niya ang pagdagdag ng P28.5 milyon para sa Development Academy of the Philippines, upang suportahan ang DAP-Graduate School of Public and Development Management.
*****