Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Representative Robert Nazal has urged the immediate release of ₱11.7 billion from the Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF), saying the funds could help address financial gaps faced by state colleges and universities (SUCs).
Nazal stressed that delays in utilizing the fund undermined the support guaranteed by law for Filipino students and SUCs.
He explained that the HEDF was created under Republic Act No. 7722, or the Higher Education Act of 1994, to strengthen higher education in the country.
“To emphasize, the HEDF is not covered by EO 338. It is a special statutory fund created by Congress under RA 7722, with a specific governance structure and a clearly defined administrative framework,” Nazal said.
“Under our constitutional hierarchy of laws, an executive issuance cannot amend, repeal or supersede an act of Congress,” he added.
Nazal said the ₱11.7 billion could finance new scholarships under the Tertiary Education Subsidy program. He also noted that CHED owed ₱12.3 billion to SUCs under the Free Tuition Fee Law, which he urged to be settled immediately.
“These are not mere accounting figures. These are classrooms without sufficient resources. These are faculty members waiting for institutional support. These are students who cannot afford delays just to finish their studies,” Nazal said.
“That is why I call for the immediate release and the proper utilization of the Higher Education Development Fund strictly in accordance with RA 7722,” he added.
Nazal also urged Congress to examine why the fund has been subjected to an executive order rather than the statute that created it.
“Ang pondong para sa edukasyon ay para sa edukasyon; hindi para maantala o maisantabi at lalo’t higit, hindi para maipit nang dahil sa maling interpretasyon ng batas. It is for the Filipino students,” he said.
“Let this be our legacy, that this House of the People defended the integrity of statutory funds and stood firm in upholding the rule of law for the sake of every Filipino student,” Nazal added.