State universities and colleges (SUCs) in Northern Mindanao are hoping Congress will grant them a budget increase for 2026 to support key infrastructure and development projects.

In a press briefing on Friday, Dr. Rolito Eballe, president of Central Mindanao University, said his campus in Maramag, Bukidnon, has three major infrastructure projects that did not make the cut in the National Expenditure Program of the Department of Budget and Management.

“We have already made several proposals, and the program of works, engineering blueprints have been readied,” he said.

Eballe, who is also president of the Regional Research and Development Coordinating Council for the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture and Resources Research and Development, noted that SUCs also receive additional support through separate funding grants from other government agencies like the Department of Science and Technology.

He added that Mindanao State University – Naawan in Misamis Oriental, a member of the consortium, has an allocation of at least PHP2 billion to improve its connectivity infrastructure.

Mindanao SUCs are expected to be present during a series of budget hearings in Congress on Sept 23, 25 and 26 to lobby for their budget requests. (PNA)