The Commission on Higher Education (CHED-6) has approved tuition and other school fees (TOSF) increases for 18 private higher education institutions (HEIs) in Western Visayas for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Most or eight of the schools are in Iloilo. These are Colegio de Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, Hua Siong College of Iloilo, Iloilo Doctors’ College, Iloilo Doctors’ College of Medicine, University of Iloilo, and the three campuses of St. Therese-MTC Colleges (La Fiesta, Magdalo, Tigbauan).
In Capiz, five schools will implement tuition increases. These include Colegio de la Purisima Concepcion, College of St. John-Roxas, Filamer Christian University, Hercor College and St. Anthony College of Roxas City.
In Aklan, four schools had been given the green light to increase. These are Aklan Catholic College, STI College Kalibo, Northwestern Visayas Colleges, and Saint Gabriel College.
In Antique, only St. Anthony’s College will increase its tuition and other fees.
According to CHED-6 Director Dr. Raul Alvarez Jr., they received a total of 22 applications from schools across the region. Of these, four were denied for proposing hikes above the 6.6% regional inflation rate.
The four are Central Philippine University, John B. Lacson Maritime University (Arevalo and Molocampuses ), and Western Institute of Technology.
CHED-6 emphasized that the 6.6% cap ensures tuition remains affordable, especially for parents and students still reeling from economic challenges.
Alvarez explained that under CHED Memorandum Order guidelines, 70% of the tuition hike must go to faculty and staff salaries and benefits, 20% to facilities improvement, and 10% to school discretion.
“These faculty members are specialists in their fields and deserve fair compensation. If we don’t allow room for increases within reasonable limits, we risk losing qualified educators,” he said.
He added that CHED-6 will closely monitor how schools spend the additional funds, requiring them to submit detailed utilization reports.
“We ensure that tuition adjustments remain justifiable and within economic bounds,” he stressed.IMT
