ILOILO — Ten of 18 private higher education institutions in Western Visayas have backed away from proposed tuition and other school fee increases for Academic Year 2026-2027 following an appeal from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to defer or reduce the hikes.
However, eight institutions are proceeding with their applications, including five seeking increases above the region’s applicable inflation rate of 2.4 percent.
According to CHED Region 6, three other institutions proposed increases within the 2.4-percent Regional Inflation Rate (RIR).
It has not disclosed the names of the eight institutions or the specific increases they are seeking.
Initially, 18 private colleges and universities in the region applied for increases in tuition and other school fees.
The number dropped after CHED issued Memorandum Order No. 1151, series of 2026, directing its regional offices to ask institutions seeking increases above the applicable inflation rate to reconsider their proposals.
The Memorandum likewise reiterated the Commission’s appeal for private higher education institutions to voluntarily defer the implementation of fee increases.
CHED-6 said the institutions cited higher labor and operational expenses, facility improvements, enhanced student services and faculty development programs as reasons for the proposed increases.
Schools particularly pointed to their need to comply with Wage Order No. RBVI-29, which raised the minimum wage and consequently increased their operating costs.
They also invoked inflation-related expenses and the need to maintain or upgrade facilities to meet modern educational standards.
Before an increase can be approved, an applicant must consult students, parents, faculty members and other affected sectors, pursuant to CHED Memorandum Order No. 3, series of 2012.
Consultation with stakeholders is a mandatory requirement under Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 3, series of 2012. Institutions applying for TOSF increases are required to conduct consultations with students, parents, faculty, and other concerned stakeholders as part of the application process./PN
