The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) believes that the vetoed portion of the 2026 national budget could affect the hiring of new government personnel.
This may result in limitations on student admissions in state universities and colleges (SUCs), following President Bongbong Marcos’ veto of ₱43.245 billion originally intended for the hiring of new government employees and the payment of retirement benefits.
According to CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis, the continued increase in enrollment may be constrained due to the lack of clarity on hiring additional teaching and non-teaching staff.
Agrupis said that without clear authority to hire more personnel, SUCs can only accommodate a limited number of students or expand enrollment to a certain extent.
Earlier, ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio said that out of the vetoed ₱43.245 billion, ₱10.772 billion was meant for the hiring of new personnel—potentially affecting more than 259,000 job order and contract-of-service workers in the government.
This includes around 41,000 faculty members and staff in state universities and colleges.
(PHOTO COURTESY: Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis | Facebook)
