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  • ISPSC attends Budget Hearings in Congress

    The Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), represented by President Dr. Mario P. Obrero and Budget Officer Eden Cortez, participated in congressional budget deliberations on the proposed FY 2027 budget of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) from September 21 to 25, 2026, at the House of Representatives and the Senate.

    The delegation attended the pre-plenary and plenary hearings at the House of Representatives on September 21 and 23, followed by the Senate Committee on Finance Sub-Committee I briefing on September 25. The discussions covered the major priorities of the proposed SUC budget, the review of actual physical accomplishments against FY 2025 targets, and issues and concerns in higher education, including measures taken to address unmet targets.

    Dr. Tirso Ronquillo, President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), presented the SUCs' budget proposal, while Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis served as the principal resource person during the budget deliberations. CHED commissioners and other officials also attended the hearings.

    During the September 25 plenary hearing at the House of Representatives, Congress endorsed the request of CHED and SUCs to include funding for deficiencies in the Free Higher Education (FHE) program.

    Prior to the plenary hearing, on September 24, President Obrero attended the ceremonial turnover of checks to SUCs during the event titled “Affirmation and Compliance to the 2026 General Appropriations Act on the Free Higher Education Subsidy Deficiency” at Andaya Hall, House of Representatives.

    A total of ?9.753 billion in checks was ceremonially turned over to the presidents of 108 SUCs, including ISPSC, to cover validated funding deficiencies for Academic Years 2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025. The event was attended by key House leaders, including Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” A. Marcos III, House Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mikaela Angela “Mika” B. Suansing, and Senior Deputy Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez.

    On September 25, President Obrero and Ms.Cortez also paid a courtesy visit to the office of Hon. Kristine Singson-Meehan, representative of the Second District of Ilocos Sur. The president later joined fellow SUC presidents at a fellowship dinner and social gathering sponsored by Hon. Jude A. Acidre, chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, at Celebrity Sports Plaza in Quezon City.

    ISPSC's participation in the budget deliberations reflects its engagement in national discussions on higher education financing and its continued pursuit of resources to support the College's academic programs and institutional priorities.

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