TACLOBAN CITY – The rising number of enrollees is the reason why the budget allotted for state-run higher learning institutions is not sufficient to address the needs of students.

“Budget for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) is acceptable and they are receiving an exact amount but I believe that there’s an increase in enrolment,” said Dr. Maria Rita Ortiz, OIC regional director of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in Eastern Visayas.

Ortiz told Leyte Samar Daily Express that the national government did not fail to allocate the amount intended for SUCs based on the regular budget.

She dismissed reports that the decreasing budget allotment from the national government is the reason why SUCs are implementing tuition fee hikes.

Records of the Department of Budget and Management showed that at least P979.47 million was released to the 11 SUCs in Eastern Visayas last year. The bulk of the fund was intended for salaries of school officials.

With this scenario, Ortiz has called on SUCs to revise their plans and undertake alternative measures to maintain quality education despite financial constraint.

“Schools must adopt measures to safeguard the allocation,” she added.

The CHED regional office has urged school administrations to come up with income generating projects to augment the regular budget allotment and in order to sustain and improve its programs.

Ortiz told LSDE that their office is closely coordinating with school administrators to ensure that schools are on the right track in attaining their visions and goals.

“We try to see the different aspect of their programs of schools to see to it that quality education is maintained,” she said.

She expressed thanked to both private and public schools for “working hand in hand with CHED” to improve the higher education in the region.

The 11 SUCs in Eastern Visayas are the Leyte Normal University and Eastern Visayas State University both located in this city; Leyte State University in Baybay, Leyte; Southern Leyte State University in Maasin City; Palompon Institute of Technology in Palompon, Leyte; Naval Institute of Technology in Naval, Biliran; Samar State University in Catbalogan, Samar; Samar State College of Agriculture and Fisheries in San Jorge, Samar; Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology in Calbayog City; University of Eastern Philippines in Catarman, Northern Samar; and Eastern Samar State University in Borongan, Eastern Samar.