The bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget on Saturday approved the transfer of the Tulong Dunong student assistance program to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), centralizing the administration of the fund for state universities and colleges (SUCs).

The decision reconciled differences between House Bill No. 4058 and the Senate version of the General Appropriations Act.

Lawmakers cited the move would streamline implementation, ensuring faster and more accessible assistance to students.

Senator Loren Legarda said centralization allows greater flexibility, “assuming there’s fiscal space,” while Senator Erwin Tulfo noted it would prevent delays that could occur if SUCs had to request funds individually from CHED.

“Maganda ang sinabi niyo so we can move to put Tulong Dunong directly to all SUCs assuming there’s fiscal space. I would like that. I hope we can do that as long as there’s fiscal space (What you said is good, so we can move to put Tulong Dunong directly to all SUCs assuming there’s fiscal space. I would like that. I hope we can do that as long as there’s fiscal space),” she said.

“It will be easier and quicker for students to ask for assistance rather than magre-request pa ang SUC sa CHED and then babalik pa. It will take some time. Baka tapos na yung klase, saka pa lang darating yung Tulong Dunong (It will be easier and quicker for students to ask for assistance rather than SUCs still requesting from CHED and then waiting for it to return. It will take some time. Classes might already be over by the time the Tulong Dunong arrives),” Tulfo said.

House Appropriations Committee Chairperson Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing said she was open to both options but noted that, given the limited time and the need for reliable estimates per SUC, centralizing Tulong Dunong under CHED was more practical for the 2026 budget cycle.

Senate Committee on Finance Chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian later confirmed the consensus.

“So, I think there’s a meeting of the minds to centralize it. So, there’s a pending motion to approve it,” he said.

Under the program, eligible students from families with a combined gross income of less than PHP400,000 receive PHP7,500 per semester, totaling PHP15,000 per academic year.

For state universities and colleges, the bicam approved a total budget of PHP138.087 billion, reflecting an increase of PHP9.248 billion from the National Expenditure Program (NEP). (PNA)