TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
345
i sti. ■ 1
■•fairr-'v’' if o( t.ii it -■;
25 JULIO PI :15
RECEIVED BY.
S. No
Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO and ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S.
CAYETANO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR STATE 
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
EXPLANATORY NOTE
State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) play a crucial role in nation-building by 
providing accessible, quality, and relevant higher education across the country. Many 
SUCs, however, continue to operate under outdated, inadequate, and sometimes 
unsafe infrastructure that hampers their ability to deliver effective instruction, foster 
research and innovation, and promote student development.
This situation is exacerbated by persistent inefficiencies in infrastructure 
delivery. According to a 2023 Commission on Audit (COA) report, government 
agencies and SUCs were flagged for over Php 242 billion worth of delayed and 
defective infrastructure projects.1 These included projects that were either unutilized, 
poorly implemented, or left incomplete, highlighting the urgent need for a more 
coordinated, transparent, and strategic approach to infrastructure planning in the 
public education sector.
This bill seeks to institutionalize a Priority Infrastructure Plan for SUCs to ensure 
that the national government provides consistent, strategic, and needs-based funding
'Philstar. (2024 December 26). Government agencies, SUCs flagged over P242 billion delayed, 
defective projects.
https://www.philstar.eom/headlines/2024/12/26/2409881/government-agencies-sucs-flagged-over-
p242-billion-delayed-defective-projects#


support for the development and upgrading of campus facilities, including classrooms, 
laboratories, libraries, research hubs, dormitories, sports and wellness facilities, and 
digital infrastructure.
The proposed measure is also in line with the goals of Republic Act No. 10931 
or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act" as it ensures that free 
education is matched with quality learning environments. It takes a futures thinking 
approach by mandating long-term, data-driven planning and coordination among the 
Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the 
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, and the SUCs themselves.
The undersigned first filed this measure in the 18th Congress to address the 
persistent infrastructure gaps in public higher education institutions. With the growing 
urgency to modernize educational facilities and promote inclusive development, its 
passage remains both timely and necessary.
By prioritizing infrastructure development, we equip our public universities and 
colleges to meet the growing demands of an innovation-driven economy, support 
inclusive learning for all students, and promote the overall well-being of learners and 
educators.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
PIA S. CAYOTANO 1
ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S. CAYETANO


support for the development and upgrading of campus facilities, including classrooms, 
laboratories, libraries, research hubs, dormitories, sports and wellness facilities, and 
digital infrastructure.
The proposed measure is also in line with the goals of Republic Act No. 10931 
or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act" as it ensures that free 
education is matched with quality learning environments. It takes a futures thinking 
approach by mandating long-term, data-driven planning and coordination among the 
Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the 
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development, and the SUCs themselves.
The undersigned first filed this measure in the 18th Congress to address the 
persistent infrastructure gaps in public higher education institutions. With the growing 
urgency to modernize educational facilities and promote inclusive development, its 
passage remains both timely and necessary.
By prioritizing infrastructure development, we equip our public universities and 
colleges to meet the growing demands of an innovation-driven economy, support 
inclusive learning for all students, and promote the overall well-being of learners and 
educators.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.
PIA S. CAYETANO
ALAN PETE
PANERO" S. CAYETANO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE 
S. No. 345
'i-'’ 
1L■' of tor ^
i‘ (iu' I
25 JULIO PI -15
RECEIVED BY:
Introduced by Senators PIA S. CAYETANO and ALAN PETER "COMPANERO" S.
CAYETANO
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN FOR STATE 
UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Short Tide. - This Act shall be known as the "Priority Infrastructure
2 
for Public Higher Education Institutions Act."
3 
Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to protect
4 
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels. To this end, the
5 
State shall ensure the development of adequate, safe, resilient, and inclusive physical
6 
learning environments in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), recognizing that
7 
appropriate educational infrastructure is essential to the intellectual, social, and holistic
8 
development of learners.
9 
Sec. 3. Priority Educational Infrastructure. - The Commission on Higher
10 
Education (CHED) shall identify priority educational infrastructure for SUCs and shall
11 
establish a priority five-year plan, taking into consideration the needs of each SUC.
12 
Sec. 4. Inter-Agency Committee. - There is hereby established an Inter-Agency
13 
Committee (lAC) for the monitoring of the implementation of this Act. The lAC shall
14 
be headed by the Chairperson of the CHED, with the President of the Philippine
15 
Association of State Universities and Colleges as Vice-Chairperson, and the following
16 
as members:


1 
a) Department of Budget and Management;
2 
b) Department of Public Works and Highways; and
3 
c) Department of Economy, Planning, and Development
4 
The lAC shall issue implementing guidelines, monitor project implementation,
5 
and submit an annual progress report to Congress.
6 
Sec. 5. Appropriation. - The amount often billion pesos (Php 10,000,000,000)
7 
shall automatically be included in the annual appropriation of CHED for the next five
8 
years for the implementation of this Act.
9 
Sec. 6. Effectivity Ciause. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days
10 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general
11 
circulation.
Approved,