With a decrease in continuing enrollees from 8,891 to 8,556 students, the Office of the SAMAHAN Treasurer (OST) endorsed a budget of P1,711,200 for the second semester of academic year 2025-2026.

SAMAHAN Treasurer Mickyla Loreine Almadin explained that the 335-student decline led to adjustments from the first semester’s budget of P1,778,200, with actual budgets varying greatly as OST sought to fit the needs of the student population under the new budget.

“For this semester naman, nagbaba [the population], and one thing we noticed as well is nagtaas din ang mga budget props [proposals] ng departments. That’s why, during the budget hearing, I informed everyone that there’s a significant adjustment for all of the departments,” Almadin commented.

Parallel to the last academic year’s budget for the second semester, the offices and departments of SAMAHAN were allocated the largest amount out of the other tranches, receiving P541,500 for their overall functions.

This allocation was followed by P438,327 for SAMAHAN university-wide events, which 

Treasurer Almadin explained would see a lesser priority from last semester to make way for department-scale events.

“This semester naman, baliktad siya; mas malaki ang na-allocate ng OST for the departments, and mas lesser ang allocation for events and projects. Because again, I think it is the best time for the departments na lesser na ang SAMAHAN-wide events, so mas malaki ang consideration for their allocated budgets,” Almadin shared.

SAMAHAN’s Pamaskong Handog and Jumpstart, the opening events for the second semester, took top priority in this portion of the budget, with allocations of P71,000 and P62,727, respectively.

Notably, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) budget held steady at P30,000 despite a P200 SAMAHAN fee increase, as this semester’s elections now count as a distinct event needing separate funding.

“Technically, considered as an event na kasi siya. So what I want to happen is that we will be providing a budget proposal specifically for the elections… so it’s not a negative thing, it’s just that may separate na budget proposal dapat for elections given that we want to make sure that hindi din gi-tipid ang elections na ma-happen this year.” 

The academic clusters received a total of P427,800, trailed by the recently created allocation for Buklod Atenista pegged at P250,000, and the Council of Class Presidents (CCP) with P44,455.

The majority of cluster representatives opted for a base of P24,000 for each cluster, with the remaining budget for the six clusters allocated based on population distribution.

Delayed class elections rolled over prior funds, boosting CCP’s total budget to P87,235 for the second semester, followed by SAMAHAN’s new budget for Unyon Mindanao at P17,112.

Following last semester’s review of fiscal policy, Almadin introduced a new protocol mandating departments to properly email the OST about event cancellations for proper budget reallocation.

“For the allocation of cancelled events—is they have to forward a formal email specifying what event was cancelled, reason of the cancellation, and where ma-allocate ang budget… because during liquidation period, I also check if these events occurred or aligned with their budget proposals.”

The 2nd Semester Budget Hearing occurred on December 19, 2025, at F712 Finster Building, Ateneo de Davao University.