With 8,180 students enrolled this semester, less than 210 from the previous term, the Office of the SAMAHAN Treasurer (OST) assumed a total budget of P818,000 for the second semester of Academic Year 2024-2025. 

The total budget was divided into four portions respectively: P294,196 for SAMAHAN Offices and Departments, P258,787 for university events and projects, P250,017 for clusters, and P15,000 for the Council of Class Presidents (CCP).

SAMAHAN Treasurer Mary Claire Clarde said this semester’s budget reflects a shift in financial priorities, with increased allocations directed toward department operations after last semester’s major events.

“Mas dako na ang na-allocate sa departments compared sa events and projects kay as promised lasts sem, magbawi mi sa departments kay last sem diba ang big events like U-Fest, Palaro,” Clarde said.

A P10,000 budget cap was set per department to ensure that more offices receive adequate funding this semester, although Clarde noted that this amount is still higher than their previous allocations.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) received the largest allocation among the departments, securing P30,000 in preparation for the upcoming SCB Elections.

“Bakit thirty-thousand sa COMELEC? The university-wide elections will take place for this semester… At the same time, wala na silay budget na makuha from OSA as an organization,” Clarde clarified.

This semester’s budget will also support Ateneo Subsidies, covering thesis grants for deserving groups and financial aid to students participating in local and international competitions. The budget for thesis grants is at P40,000 and was allocated under the events and projects.

“We will be providing thesis grants… Mag-release kami soon ng guidelines like, the best thesis applicants gano’n. Maybe we’ll be able to cater to 10-15 groups, around P2,000-3,000 per group,” Clarde said.

Clarde also introduced the Ateneans Dreamers Aid, a financial assistance program that will be implemented in collaboration with the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), Ateneo Culture and Arts Cluster (ACAC), and Council of Organizations of the Ateneo – Davao (COA-D) to support student teams competing outside the university.

University-wide events for this semester also received a substantial portion of the budget, with Jumpstart 2025: The Ateneo Sem Starter & AdDUToCart Bazaar and the Loyola Awards 2025 receiving P50,000 each.

Meanwhile, the SAMAHAN Top 4 offices retained their P5,000 budget per office, though these funds are expected to remain untouched as a contingency reserve for the Loyola Awards.

For clusters, representatives voted to set a base amount of P20,000, with the final budget ranging from P21,000 to P33,000, depending on the number of enrollees in each cluster. The Engineering and Architecture (SEA) Cluster, with 1,773 students, secured the highest allocation at P35,176.06.

The 2nd Semester Budget Hearing was held at the SAMAHAN Office last Saturday, February 1, 2025.