Manila, Feb. 24 -- The 2026 national budget earmarked PHP4 billion to build more classrooms, upgrade more facilities, and provide more opportunities for deserving students in 114 state universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said.

In a news release on Tuesday, the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance said the allocation would enable SUCs to expand their enrollment capacity.

He noted that limited capacity has forced SUCs to turn away qualified students despite meeting admission requirements.

Analysis by the senator's office showed that, due to capacity issues, 168,493 students were denied admission despite being qualified for enrollment.

Data submitted by 62 SUCs also showed that 32 have exceed...