CMU calls for inclusive implementation and sustainable funding of RA 12325

Central Mindanao University (CMU) emphasized the need for equitable access to higher education and sustainable institutional funding during the public consultation on the proposed Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 12325, held on November 10, 2026, at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Auditorium in Quezon City.

Representing the University, Mr. Charlie A. Mundal, CMU Budget Officer, and Angel Brave Lyn D. Badajos, CMU Supreme Student Council (CMU-SSC) President, participated in the consultation to share the University’s perspectives on the proposed implementation of the law.

During the consultation, Badajos presented the realities and concerns of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), particularly those in Mindanao. He underscored the importance of an equitable and inclusive implementation that considers the diverse circumstances of intended beneficiaries, including Indigenous Peoples (IP) students, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“Iba-iba po ang conditions ng bawat SUC. The position I take is grounded in the Mindanao lens, particularly in recognizing the diverse realities of our communities across the region, with Central Mindanao University as one of the institutions that reflects these realities,” Badajos said.

He further emphasized that the proposed provisions should not focus solely on 4Ps beneficiaries but should meaningfully recognize other marginalized and disadvantaged sectors, particularly Indigenous Peoples.

“Inclusion means ensuring that no sector or community is left behind,” he added.

The University’s participation was further supported by a 54-page written submission containing its comments, observations, and recommendations on the proposed IRR. The document presented the University’s position on the need to ensure that the implementation of the law is responsive not only to students’ needs but also to the operational and financial realities of SUCs.

For his part, Mundal stressed that expanding access to higher education must be accompanied by adequate and sustainable funding for public higher education institutions.

“CMU firmly believes that free and accessible higher education must go hand in hand with sustainable institutional funding. We cannot fully achieve the objectives of this law (RA 12325) by providing assistance to students alone; we must also ensure that SUCs have the financial and institutional capacity to deliver quality education,” he said.

He further emphasized, “Let us not expand the mandate of SUCs without expanding the resources necessary to fulfill that mandate.”

Through its participation, CMU reaffirmed its commitment to advancing accessible, inclusive, and quality higher education while ensuring that policies and programs recognize the diverse needs of students and the institutional resources required to support them.

The University’s position supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, particularly in promoting equitable access to inclusive and quality higher education. [Iyren Dalipe Neri]