Free Tuition sounds simple. But getting through college is rarely that simple. For students, earning a degree comes with expenses beyond tuition. They still have to pay for transportation, food, school supplies, requirements, and other daily expenses that can make staying in school a challenge.

That is why the proposed P9.757 billion reduction in CHED’s Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) allocation deserves scrutiny. The proposed 2027 CHED allocation for UAQTE is P27.790 billion, compared with P37.547 billion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act cited during Senate discussions.

The issue comes as the government has increased its commitment to expanding access to higher education. Republic Act No. 12325, signed on September 4, strengthens the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act and expands assistance for disadvantaged students, including qualified 4Ps beneficiaries. 

Sen. Joel Villanueva warned that the smaller allocation could make it harder to carry out the law's goal of directing support to students who need it most. As he put it, “A smaller budget makes that job harder, not easier.” 

CHED, meanwhile, has sought an additional P17 billion to support free higher education for around 940,000 incoming students, underscoring the agency’s concern over whether the proposed funding will be enough to meet demand.

Still, the budget picture needs context. The Department of Budget and Management said the proposed 2027 UAQTE program totals P61.10 billion across state universities and colleges, CHED, and TESDA. Additionally, it stated that the proposed CHED UAQTE allocation exceeds the 2026 National Expenditure Program by P383 million or 1.4 percent. The larger P9.757 billion difference comes from comparing the proposed 2027 allocation with the 2026 enacted budget, which included additional funding. 

The distinction matters. But so does the bigger question: Will the funding available be enough to deliver what an expanded free higher education program promises?

Sen. Bam Aquino raised that concern during the budget deliberation.

“Alam po natin na napakalaking tulong ng libreng tuition. Kaya po natin ‘to pinaglaban nung una nating termino. Pero alam rin ho natin na hindi doon nagtatapos ang gastos ng isang pamilya. May pamasahe, pagkain, kagamitan, at iba pang mga pangangailangan sa pag-aaral.” 

That is where the conversation about free education should go.

For 108 state universities and colleges, the government has already released P9.753 billion to address validated deficiencies in funding for free higher education. The release shows that funding free tuition is not simply about setting aside money for students to enter college. It also requires ensuring that schools have enough support to sustain the program.

Free tuition is an important step toward making college accessible, but removing tuition does not remove the other costs of staying in school. If the government wants more Filipinos to earn a degree, funding must account not only for who can enter college, but also for who can afford to remain and finish.

Because when it comes to higher education, the degree of difficulty should come from the coursework, not from finding the money to stay enrolled.