State universities and colleges (SUCs) may face restrictions on student admissions following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s veto of P43.245 billion in the 2026 national budget, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said.
The vetoed funds were intended to cover the hiring of new government personnel, including teaching and non-teaching staff, and the payment of retirement benefits for civilian and uniformed employees.
“Ang naapektuhan dito is we may have limitations in increasing the number of enrollment natin,” CHED Chairperson Sherly Agrupis said, noting that the approval of additional staff is key to expanding student intake.
Agrupis added that while the teaching and learning environment will remain intact, the hiring of non-teaching personnel in SUCs will be affected. Institutions will need to justify any additional contract or job order positions before they can be filled.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines criticized the veto, highlighting that it affects more than 259,000 contract and job order workers nationwide, including over 41,000 faculty and staff in SUCs. The remaining funds were earmarked for terminal leave benefits, raising concerns over possible delays in payments.
CHED also noted that it is awaiting approval for the Revised Organizational Structure and Staffing Phase (ROSS) II, which aims to convert existing contract and casual employees into permanent positions. ROSS I was implemented in 2025.
Agrupis emphasized that the veto does not change existing staffing laws, but institutions may need to carefully justify requests for additional personnel to maintain services and meet operational requirements.