Pres. Reyes leads discussion on univ budget in SOPA 2026

Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila’s (PLM) financial status was discussed in the State of the President Address (SOPA) at the Justo Albert Auditorium (JAA) last May 6.

University President Atty. Domingo “Sonny” Y. Reyes, along with the Vice President of Finance Dr. Enrico Torres, led the discussion on the status of the university’s budget, resource generation and how it impacts the whole PLM community.

Budget at a glance

According to Dr. Torres, the university registered a net income of negative 154 million in 2024, which was turned around in 2025, amounting to 211 million pesos. This rise was driven by cumulative subsidies from the local government unit (LGU), CHED, grants, scholarships, the social amelioration program (SAP), and donations totalling about 716 million.

However, despite this increase, the vice president emphasized that this money will be allocated back into operations and placement. This involves prioritizing employee salaries, basic necessities such as water and electricity, and generating income for the university.

The Budget Gap

A part of Pres. Sonny’s address was an acknowledgement of the gap between the university’s funds and expenses. It was reported that with the city’s subsidy, CHED-UniFAST scholarship and other avenues for income, PLM receives around 650 million pesos every year, but requires 1.4 billion pesos to fully operate.

According to the president’s speech, after the pandemic, limited capacity led to fewer accepted enrollees, resulting in a reduced subsidy amount. He hopes that by next year, this aid from the LGU will increase, requesting that the withheld subsidies from the previous years be included in the 2027 annual budget.

Furthermore, eight years ago, PLM proposed a tuition fee of ₱293 per unit per student, but a five-year moratorium from UniFAST prevented any tuition fee increase, thus rendering the fee stagnant over time despite rising costs. Pres. Sonny shared that now, ₱1,200 per unit per student is needed, hoping that at least half of this rate can be claimed by the university.

Bridging the Gap

Although the university is being financially supported by the City of Manila, PLM remains classified as a local university and college (LUC) that does not have its own appropriation from the national government, unlike other state universities. In response to the matter, the university president is pushing for a resolution in Congress to obtain additional appropriations from the national government.

Moreover, with the constraints presented, Pres. Sonny said, “Tulad ng isang pamilya, kung maikli ang kumot, kailangan nating mamaluktot,” implying certain sacrifices to be made, such as the leadership trainings being conducted outside the campus.

The administration assured the community that it will find a way to increase its funds and that, in any situation, financial transparency is upheld within the university

“All of our expenses and expenditures are accounted for. Wala po itong mga tinatawag na loopholes na kung saan puwede tayong magsabi na meron yatang graft and corruption sa PLM… Sinusuri po natin ang lahat ng mga gastusin bago ito ilabas,” stated the Vice President of Finance.

PLM will not close

As of April 2026, the university has a remaining balance of ₱285 million, which is projected to last only until mid-August 2026. Despite this, the administration remains optimistic and vies to keep the university doors open for its students and the community.

“Tayo po ay may 285 million pero may gastusin po tayo…Hindi po papayagan ng management ‘yun [ang pagsasara]. Ginagawa po lahat ng management team, kasama po ang Office ng VP of Finance, na maghanap ng paraan para i-augment ang ating cash position,” Dr. Torres stated.

The administration shall set its meetings with CHED and City Hall to raise funds and acquire unclaimed subsidies. Meanwhile, it requests the PLM community to extend its patience and understanding amidst the challenges faced by the university.

The president emphasized that many people are still counting on PLM to transform their lives. He urged students and educators to work towards excellence, and its alumni and partners to continue their support. He highlighted that the strong state of the university was not because of its resources, but rather how it overcomes challenges.

“Tuloy ang pagbibigay ng de-kalidad at libreng edukasyon,” said Pres. Sonny.