The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), one of the country's largest and most accessible state universities, is facing a staggering ₱8.4 billion budget cut for fiscal year 2025 — a blow that threatens to derail its efforts toward becoming a research-oriented and innovation-driven institution.

PUP requested a budget of ₱11.8 billion, but only ₱3.42 billion was approved under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). This leaves a wide gap between the university's growing academic responsibilities and the actual funding it receives from the national government.

Despite its financial constraints, PUP continues to achieve academic excellence. The Sto. Tomas campus in Batangas has produced recent board topnotchers. Students from its Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) program have even presented research abroad, representing the university at international conferences — accomplishments often made possible by personal funding or external sponsors rather than institutional support.

Across the PUP system, particularly in provincial campuses, faculty members are grappling with the harsh reality of conducting research with little to no financial assistance. Many research proposals have gone unsupported in recent years, with some faculty being forced to shoulder publication fees or cancel research plans entirely due to the lack of institutional funding. The university's campuses outside Manila are particularly affected, as they often receive limited allocations and lack dedicated research offices or equipment.

The budget disparity between PUP's main campus and its satellite campuses further worsens the problem. While the Manila campus retains relatively better resources, branch campuses like PUP Sto. Tomas operate with minimal infrastructure, outdated facilities, and constrained administrative support — all while being expected to match the output of more established institutions.

The reduction in research funding has not only limited the scholarly work of faculty but also restricted opportunities for students to engage in meaningful research training. Without grants, stipends, or access to proper equipment, many promising research initiatives never move beyond the proposal stage.

This situation highlights a troubling contradiction: the state demands that public universities become leaders in innovation and knowledge production, yet fails to provide the minimum funding necessary to sustain that ambition. PUP's case is emblematic of this mismatch between national vision and fiscal commitment.

Unless the government takes serious steps to restore and increase financial support for research in state universities — and to ensure equitable distribution across campuses — the country risks undermining its own goals for academic excellence and scientific advancement.