The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated approximately PHP55.65 million to enhance education facilities at Mindanao State University (MSU) in Marawi City. In an official statement, the DBM announced that Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman has approved the release of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) to fund the construction of a three-story Student Center Building at MSU-Marawi. According to the DBM, the Student Center Building, covering an area of 1,850 square meters, is intended to serve as a venue for the promotion, development, and implementation of various student-related programs and activities at the University.
The DBM stated that the execution of the Locally-Funded Project (LFP) will be covered by MSU-Marawi's existing appropriations outlined in the Fiscal Year 2023 General Appropriations Act. Pangandaman emphasized that allocating funds for the enhancement of MSU's educational facilities is crucial in establishing an environment conducive to learning for Filipino students. She expressed, "As I consistently mention, our youth are the torchbearers of our future. That's why it's essential that we assist them by supplying the required equipment and facilities".
The DBM has earmarked approximately PHP154.192 million in the 2024 national budget for the Free Higher Education (FHE) Program at MSU-Marawi. In December of the previous year, the DBM also sanctioned the release of PHP334.24 million to create an additional 673 permanent faculty positions across nine campuses of MSU. The approval of these faculty positions was based on the recommended faculty-student ratio. Starting as a single-campus university in Marawi City, MSU has expanded into a multi-campus university with eight autonomous campuses, including MSU-Main in Marawi City, MSU-IIT in Iligan City, MSU-TCTO in Tawi-Tawi, MSU-Naawan in Misamis Oriental, MSU-Maguindanao, MSU-General Santos, MSU-Sulu in Jolo, and MSU Buug in Zamboanga Sibugay.
