CHED

Sen. Bam to CHED: Release full budget for TES program

While he welcomes the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) release of around P4.8 billion for its Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program, Sen. Bam Aquino said the allocated budget for its full implementation should be distributed immediately to student-beneficiaries in both public and private education institutions.

“I welcome the release of the said amount as it proves the administration’s commitment to implement the program under the law,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he pushed during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.

The CHED recently announced the release of P4.8 billion for the TES program under the free higher education law to students in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) and 78 local universities and colleges (LUCs).

However, Sen. Bam stressed that the remaining P11.2 billion fund allocated for the TES in the 2018 budget should also be released immediately for the benefit of students under the program.

“Siguraduhin natin na ang buong budget na nakalaan para sa TES ay mailabas sa lalong madaling panahon, kasama na rito ang mga scholarship para sa mga estudyante ng private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs),” added Sen. Bam.

Recently, Sen. Bam convinced the CHED to issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

During the CHED’s budget hearing, Sen. Bam informed the department that several SUCs still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931.

“Sana gawin nating New Year’s resolution ang 100 porsiyentong pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo sa lahat ng state university at college. Dapat hindi na maningil ang SUC ng tuition at mandatory fees sa mga estudyante ngayong 2019,” said Sen. Bam.

CHED commits to Sen. Bam 100% compliance to Free College Law

Thanks to Sen. Bam Aquino’s prodding, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will soon issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges (SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.
 
“Sa batas natin, bawal nang mangolekta ng mandatory fees ang mga SUC. Dapat ituloy ang laban para sa 100 percent compliance ng mga kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam during the CHED’s budget hearing.
 
During interpellation of the CHED budget, Sen. Bam expressed his concern that a few SUCs may still collect miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students, despite the expressed prohibition under Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
“Sa pag-iikot natin sa mga SUC, nalalaman naming may balak pa ang ilan na mangolekta ng miscellaneous fees,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 during his term as chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
“Hindi dapat ito nangyayari dahil may batas nang nagsasabi na bawal ang paninigil ng miscellaneous at iba pang mandatory fee,” added Sen. Bam. “Sa batas na ito, sinisiguro na ang kapos, makapagtatapos.”
 
Sen. Bam insisted that the law should be properly enjoyed by students and their families so they can cope with daily expenses amid the high prices of food and other goods.
 
“Halos aabot din sa daan-daang piso ang kinokolektang miscellaneous fees sa mga estudyante, pera na dapat ginagamit nang panggastos ng pamilyang Pilipino na pambili ng pagkain at iba pang pangangailangan,” added Sen. Bam.
 
In response, CHED chairman Prospero de Vera agreed to issue a draft memorandum that will clarify and warn SUCs that students should not pay a single centavo to enroll in an SUC, LUC or TESDA-run TVI
 
In addition, Sen. Bam sought to expand the coverage of the free college law to cover on-the-job training, affiliation fees for nursing students, and other Related Learning Experiences (RLEs). 
 
Sen. Bam also pushed for the better support for SUCs through additional plantilla position for non-teaching personnel, such as security personnel, registrar, guidance counselors, resident ombudsman, among others.
 
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM), for its part, committed and allocated money for this endeavor and was simply waiting for the recommendation from CHED.
 
Sen. Bam said once the CHED gave its recommendation, SUCs can start hiring non-teaching personnel next year.

Sen. Bam: Patibayin ang paghanga sa mga Pilipinong manunulat, ituro ang Panitikan sa kolehiyo

Sen. Bam Aquino questioned the Supreme Court’s decision excluding Panitikan and Filipino as core subjects in college, saying that we should strengthen our Filipino identity and appreciation for our national language.

 “Sa kolehiyo lumalim ang pagmamahal ko sa bayan. Kaya mahalaga na hanggang tertiary level, tuluy-tuloy ang pag-aaral at pagpapalalim sa ating pagiging Pilipino, at malaking bahagi dito ang ating literatura,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of the law granting free education in state universities and colleges.

Sen. Bam shared that it was in his college years that he became more aware of the country’s needs, and he emphasized that Filipino literature can help deepen the youth’s love and appreciation for the struggles, revolutions and victories of fellow Filipinos.

“Kilalanin at ipagmalaki natin ang mga kababayan nating makata’t manunulat na maaaring maging inspirasyon sa ating mga estudyante sa kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam, vice chairman of the Committee on Education.

Sen. Bam pushed for the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act as principal sponsor during his time as chairman of the Committee on Education.

Currently, Sen. Bam is also pushing for other education-related measures, including Senate Bill No. 1278 or the Trabaho Center in Schools Act.

The measure aims to establish a job placement office in every public high school and SUC in the country, which will provide industry matching, career counseling, and employment facilitation.

Trabaho Centers must also address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.

Overall, Sen. Bam has 35 laws to his name.

Sen. Bam to SUCs: Collecting mandatory fees is now illegal

Sen. Bam Aquino cautioned state universities and colleges (SUCs) from collecting fees from students amid the implementation of the Free College Law.
 
“If there are mandatory fees still being collected by the schools, that is illegal now,” said Sen. Bam during the budget hearing of the Commission on Higher Education.
 
“Mag-ingat sila sa kinokolekta nila kasi nasa batas iyan. If it is a mandatory fee, that should not be charged to the students,” added Sen. Bam, principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
Sen. Bam made the pronouncement after receiving complaints from students and parents about mandatory fees being collected by SUCS despite the implementation of the free college law.
 
“May natatanggap pa rin tayong reklamo ukol sa di makatwirang paniningil na ginagawa ng ilang SUCs. Di na ito dapat ginagawa,” said Sen. Bam, also the vice chairman of the Committee on Education.
 
Republic Act 10931 provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools. 
 
Also, the law allows students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.
 
The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

Sen. Bam insists on refund of 2nd semester tuition and miscellaneous fees for SUC students

While the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act is considered a milestone, Sen. Bam Aquino said the agency should prioritize the refund for second semester of school year 2017-18.

“Masaya tayo na mayroon nang klarong IRR para sa pagpapatupad nito sa susunod na school year. Pero kailangan pa rin ipaglaban ang refund para sa mga nagbayad ng tuition fee o miscellaneous fees noong 2nd semester,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931.

In previous interviews, CHED officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera admitted that the original intention was to implement the law in the second semester of school year 2017-18, which is actively being pushed by Sen. Bam.

The CHED OIC also mentioned that they are unable to cover the miscellaneous fees for the 2nd semester of this school year due to legal issues with the budget. 

 However, Sen. Bam challenged this by saying that they consulted and worked with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) and CHED to ensure no legal impediments in using the budget to cover tuition and miscellaneous fees for the second semester 2017-2018. 

 “Sapat ang pondo para sa tuition at miscellaneous fees ng 2018, pati na ang kasalukuyang 2nd semester. Napag-usapan na rin ang legality noong budget deliberations. Kaya dapat lang na may refund and mga estudyante,” said Sen. Bam, the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education.

 “The CHED should attend a public hearing in the Senate to justify to lawmakers, and especially students and parents, for its refusal to implement the law in the second semester of the current school year,” added Sen. Bam.

The Senate expressed its full support behind the full implementation of the free college law for the second semester of school year 2017-18, when it unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620. However, CHED remains silent on the Senate’s move.

 Sen. Bam also reminded CHED of its earlier commitment during budget deliberation for RA 10931 that the P41 billion budget for its implementation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

“Magandang CHED mismo ang magpaliwanag sa mga senador, mga magulang at mga estudyante na umaasang maipatutupad ang batas ngayong second semester,” said Sen. Bam.

Meanwhile, Sen. Bam said he will scrutinize the IRR for the free college law to ensure that the law’s original intent will be fully implemented and students will benefit from it.

Sen. Bam to CHED: Heed Senate’s call to implement free college law ASAP

Senator Bam Aquino urged the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to heed the Senate’s call to implement the free college law in the second semester of school year 2017-18 to help alleviate the plight of Filipino families.

 Last Monday, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620, which rallied the Upper Chamber to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law.

 “Nagkaisa ang Senado na manawagan sa CHED na gawing libre na ang tuition pati miscellaneous fees sa SUCs, ipatupad na ang batas as soon as possible,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

“Hindi nila napatupad sa napagkasunduang timeline, kaya ang kompromiso natin ay refund. Dapat lang ibalik ng mga SUC ang anumang tuition fee at miscellaneous fee na siningil nila sa mga estudyante,” Sen. Bam added.

 Sen. Bam reiterated that during the bicameral conference committee for RA 10931, representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by the second semester of 2017-18.

In addition, Sen. Bam reminded CHED of its assurance during the budget deliberation for RA 10931 that the P41 billion budget for its implementation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

“May pondo na, ito ang gusto ng parehong executive at ng legislative, nararapat lang na ipatupad na ng CHED ang libreng kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

Principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.  Under the law, students of both public and private college and universities can also apply  for scholarship grants and student loans.

The measure was languishing in the legislative mill for years before it was passed during Sen. Bam’s time as chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress. This was Sen. Bam’s 19th law in his four years as senator.

 

Sen. Bam calls on CHED, SUCs to refund students for tuition and miscellaneous fees

Senator Bam Aquino wants state universities and colleges (SUCs) to refund the fees they collected from students in the second semester of school year 2017-18 with the free college law now in effect.

In a radio interview, Sen. Bam said the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) should be implementing Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act for the second semester of Academic Year 2017-18.

Sen. Bam said some SUCs have already complied with the law and stopped collecting tuition and other fees from students. However, there were some schools which continue to do so despite the law’s enactment, possibly due to lack of funds.

“Mayroon nang mga SUCs ang hindi nangolekta ngayong semester. Sa mga nangolekta na, ang gusto natin ay i-refund ang ibinayad ng mga estudyante at kanilang pamilya,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931 in the Senate.

During the interview, Sen. Bam renewed his call to CHED to fully implement RA 10931, saying Filipino families need it more than ever, especially amid the rising prices in goods and services due to the passage of the tax reform law.

“Kung tutulong tayo, huwag nang magtimpi. Lubus-lubusin na ang tulong, ipatupad na ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees,” stressed Sen. Bam.

On Monday, the Senate unanimously supported Sen. Bam’s push for the full and immediate implementation of RA 10931 in the second semester of school year 2017-18.

After Sen. Bam delivered a sponsorship speech for Senate Resolution No. 620 that he filed, the senators adopted it immediately.

In Senate Resolution No. 620, Sen. Bam urged the Senate to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law, in light of the announcement of a June 2018 implementation by CHED.

During his sponsorship speech, Sen. Bam said that representatives from both Houses of Congress expressly agreed on the legislative intent to implement it by November 2017 during the bicameral conference committee on Republic Act 10931.

Sen. Bam also insisted that during the budget deliberation for Republic Act 10931, the CHED-UNIFAST declared to the members of the Senate that the P41 billion budget allocation was sufficient to cover the tuition and other fees in SUCs starting second semester of 2017-18.

The commitment was contrary to the latest statement by CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera that it plans to fully implement the law stating June 2018 for Academic Year 2018-19, with CHED still in the process of finalizing the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

Sen. Bam believes that with RA 10931 now in effect and an approved budget to support its execution, there’s no reason for CHED not to attend to its immediate implementation.

Sen. Bam on the resignation of CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan

Higher education has lost a dependable ally with the resignation of CHED Chairperson Patricia Licuanan. 
 
As former chairman of the Committee on Education, we can attest to her dedication to improve access to quality education as we worked closely to pass the free college law.
 
We thank Chairperson Licuanan for her immeasurable service to Filipino students and for all her help in crafting the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
 
At the same time, we call on Malacanang to appoint an immediate replacement with the ability and the will to effectively implement this critical reform.
 
We look forward to working with yet another staunch advocate for quality education in the Philippines.

Bam eyes students’ safety during field trips in probe

Are there tight guidelines to ensure our children’s safety?

Sen. Bam Aquino said this will be the main focus of the impending Senate probe on the bus accident that killed 15 people, including 13 students from Bestlink College, during a field trip in Tanay, Rizal.

 Sen. Bam has filed Senate Resolution No. 297, calling for an investigation into the accident, which also claimed the lives of a teacher and the bus driver.

 “We need to check the guidelines. Are there tight guidelines to make sure that our children are safe?” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “Gusto nating malaman how we can avoid these type of accidents. This is not the first accident na nangyari in a field trip na may namatay. Mayroon nang nangyaring ganito in the past,” he added.

The probe, which will be conducted jointly by the Committees on Education and Public Services, would determine if the students were coerced by the school to join the field trip in exchange for a passing grade.

 “We need to make sure that walang napilit.  Kailangan nating alamin ang katotohanan sa mga kuwento na na-threaten daw iyong mga bata na babagsak kung hindi sumama sa field trip,” the senator said.

 Sen. Bam said representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) will also be invited to the hearing to discuss regulations regarding field trips in elementary and high schools.

 According to initial investigation, the students were en-route to a medical and survival training for their National Service Training Program subject when the bus lost its brakes while traversing a curved highway before hitting an electrical post.

Bam: CHED ‘out of touch’ on claim SUC students are ‘moneyed, non-poor’

Senator Bam Aquino described as “out of touch” the Commission on Higher Education’s claim that students in state colleges and universities (SUCs) are mostly moneyed and non-poor.

 “Three out of four ng estudyante sa SUC ay nagda-drop-out dahil kulang ang kanilang pambayad. Paano sila naging mayaman,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

 Sen. Bam’s reaction came after CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan said in a television interview that “only moneyed and non-poor students will enjoy the P8.3-billion budget for free tuition fee in SUCs”.

 While he admitted that the country’s “poorest of the poor” are not in college, Sen. Bam said many of the students in SUCs still come from families of minimum-wage earners.

 “Hindi masasabing sila ang poorest of the poor, pero kailangan pa rin nila ng tulong pinansiyal para makatapos ng kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said the institutionalization of free tuition in SUCs will keep students in schools and lead to more college graduates.

 “We want more people to get a degree. Sana sa tulong ng repormang ito, dumami pa ang college graduates sa Pilipinas na makatutulong sa kanilang pamilya sa malapit na hinaharap,” Sen. Bam said in a television interview.

Aquino filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from Sen. Bam’s bill, several senators have filed similar measures to institutionalize free college education in SUCs beyond the allocation of P8.3 billion in the 2017 budget.

“We’re very positive about it, we’re very hopeful about this bill, and we’re getting a lot of cross-party support. We hope to pass it as soon as possible,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from free tuition fees in SUCs, Sen. Bam has also filed other education-related bills in the 17th Congress.

 Among them is the Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which recently hurdled the committee level and will be discussed in plenary this year.

Sen. Bam also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).

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