Section 17Sec./Art. 17

Appropriation. - The amount of Five hundred million pesos (P500,000,000) is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the seed capital of the Fund. The additional amount of Fifty million pesos (P50,000,000) is hereby authorized to be appropriated out of the funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated or out of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) funds for the initial operation of the Commission.

The sum equivalent to the appropriations for the current year for the Bureau of Higher Education and the degree-granting-programs of the Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education, including those for higher and tertiary education and degree granting vocational and technical programs of the Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education in the regional offices, as well as parts of the budgetary items under the DECS budget that are concerned with higher and tertiary education and degree-granting vocational and technical programs such as those for personal services, maintenance and other operating expenses and capital outlay, shall be transferred to the Commission.

Thereafter, the funds necessary shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.