Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

Sen. Bam: Ituloy ang 2019 elections para magkaalaman na kung ano’ng nagawa para sa bayan

Senator Bam Aquino hopes that a candidate’s track record and accomplishments will matter most in the 2019 elections.
 
“Kaya tayo tumututol sa No-El, para magka-eleksiyon at magkaalaman na. Ano ba ang talaga ang ginawa para sa bayan? Ano ba ang plano mo para sa tao,” said Sen. Bam in reply to Sec. Bong Go’s statement to President Duterte’s critics.
 
The lawmaker said the 2019 elections should serve as an acid test for a candidate’s performance. 
 
“I’m hoping that the 2019 elections, hindi lang ito popularity contest, o paramihan ng tarpaulin o paramihan ng giveaway. Sana isa itong eleksiyon kung saan kailangan mo talagang suriin ang bawat kandidato,” said Sen. Bam.
 
“Ano ba ang naibigay sa taumbayan, ano ba ang pinaglalaban, saan ba siya tahimik? Let’s have an elections na iyon ang focus, para makapili tayo ng mga pinunong makatutulong sa bayan,” added the senator.
 
Sen. Bam has 24 laws in his five years as senator, including the Go Negosyo Act and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. 
 
He was the principal sponsor of the law making college education free in public universities and colleges.

Sen. Bam continues productive streak, even in minority bloc

Senator Bam Aquino once again proved his willingness and ability to pass significant reforms, even after his removal as chairman of the education committee and confinement into the minority bloc.

“Kahit tayo’y nasa minorya at oposisyon, hindi ito hadlang para magtrabaho para sa ikabubuti ng bansa at ng lahat ng Pilipino,” said Sen. Bam.

Hard at work as chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, measures to support scientists and researchers are now closer to becoming law.

One is the Balik-Scientist Act, with the bicameral conference committee report now ratified by both Houses of Congress and waiting to be transmitted to Malacanang for President Duterte’s approval.

Another is Senate Bill No. 1534, which seeks to amend Republic Act 8439 or the Magna Carta for Scientists to give scientists commensurate benefits.

The measure has been approved by the Senate on third and final reading and will be tackled by the bicameral conference committee anytime soon. 

The Open Access in Data Transmission Bill was sponsored in the Senate before session adjourned on Wednesday (March 21) while the Innovative Start-up Act is already being tackled in the plenary. Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of all four measures.

Also, Sen. Bam spearheaded investigations into the National Broadband Plan, the Philippine Rise issue and the “nakaw load” controversy that has affected millions of prepaid mobile phone subscribers.

Sen. Bam also led the passage of Senate Bill No. 1698 or the Reservist Employment Rights Act.  The bill was approved by the Senate on third and final reading via a 16-0 vote.

Sen. Bam has 19 laws to his name, the latest being Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which he passed as principal sponsor during his 8-month stint as chairman of the Committee on Education, Culture and Arts.

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: Refund students for miscellaneous fees, implement free college law

A senator criticized the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its inaction on the Senate’s call to implement Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act in the second semester of school year 2017-18, and demanded a refund for students charged with miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

 “We demand that CHED immediately implement free education in our public universities and colleges and reimburse students for miscellaneous fees charged during the 2nd semester of the current academic year,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931.

“Obligasyon ng CHED na sagutin at tugunan ang resolusyon ng Senado at ipatupad ang batas na magbibigay lunas sa problema ng milyon-milyong mga estudyanteng Pilipino at kanilang mga pamilya,” added Sen. Bam.

 Last February 15, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s Resolution No. 620, which urged the Upper Chamber to express a united front in support of the full implementation of the free college law. However, CHED has yet to act on the Senate’s move.

“Nagkaisa ang Senado na nararapat lang ipatupad ng CHED ang batas para sa libreng kolehiyo dahil epektibo na ito noon pang Agosto 2017 at may nakalaang 41 bilyong piso para rito,” said Sen. Bam

 “Looks like the Senate’s call has fallen on deaf ears, because until now, we have yet to hear from CHED regarding our push for the law’s implementation in the second semester of 2017,” added Sen. Bam.

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

Furthermore, Sen. Bam said CHED assured 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.

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 to executive: Implement free college before Cha-cha propaganda

Why focus on Charter change over free tuition law?

 Senator Bam Aquino questioned the Commission on Higher Education’s move to use state universities and colleges (SUCs) to push the government’s Charter change agenda, especially when they have yet to implement the free college law.

Instead of promoting Charter change, Sen. Bam said it would be best for CHED to pour resources into refunding the tuition fees and miscellaneous fees collected by state universities and colleges (SUCs) during the second semester of academic year 2017-2018 and ensure the implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Gawing prayoridad sana ng CHED ang pagtulong sa mga estudyante ng ating public universities and colleges. Unahin natin ang pagpapatupad ng libreng kolehiyo imbis na gumastos para sa propaganda ng Charter Change,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931.

Sen. Bam issued the pronouncement after CHED officer-in-charge Popoy de Vera revealed his plan to conduct a massive information drive in SUCs nationwide to help the youth fully understand Charter change.

 Sen. Bam has been urging the CHED to implement the free college law in the second semester of school year 2017-18, saying that the legislative intent was to implement it by the second semester of 2017-18.

Also, Sen. Bam said the CHED itself assured the Senate 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.

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.

 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 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.

 

Sponsorship Speech on the Full Implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

P.S. RESOLUTION NO. 620

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE 

FOR THE IMMEDIATE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROVISIONS 

OF THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT BY ADMINISTERING AND AFFORDING THE STUDENTS 

FREE TUITION AND OTHER SCHOOL FEES AT THE START 

OF THE SECOND SEMESTER OF ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018 

  

  

Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV 
17th Congress, Senate of the Philippines
Sponsorship Speech, February 12, 2018

  

Good afternoon, Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, mga kaibigan at mga kababayan, magandang magandang hapon po sa ating lahat. 

It is an honor, Mr. President, to sponsor a Resolution Expressing the Sense of the Senate for the Immediate Implementation of the Provisions of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act by administering and affording the students free tuition and other school fees, including this current semester, which is the second semester of Academic Year 2017-2018. 

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2017, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining all of us to stand behind free college education in the Philippines, as principal sponsor of the now enacted Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, 

 Thanks to your support and thanks to the hard work and strong will of a great number of advocates in and outside Congress, both the House of Representatives and the Senate of the Philippines ratified this landmark bill on May 30, 2017. 

On August 3, 2017, Mr. President, amidst rumors and threats of a veto, the President signed this revolutionary reform into law as Republic Act No. 10931. 

Mr. President and fellow lawmakers, I remember how we all worked together and crossed  party lines to champion education in the Philippines! 

 Together, we enacted a progressive new policy that prohibits our public universities and colleges from charging their students tuition fees and other school fees. 

 Sa totoo lang, Mr. President, pag binabalita ko po ito sa mga estudyante at magulang, hindi po sila makapaniwala na wala na silang babayaran sa kolehiyo. 

 Sa mga hindi pa po makakapaniwala, totoo po! Naisabatas na po noong August 3 at naging effective ng August 18! Bawal na mangolekta ng tuition fees at miscellaneous fees ang mga state universities at colleges sa ating bansa. 

 And more than this, Mr. President, on December 19, 2017, the General Appropriations Act was signed and sealed with a 41-billion-peso allotment for the implementation of this landmark legislation. 

— 

 Mr. President, esteemed colleagues, we all know that we secured significant funding to cover this law. 

 In fact as early as 2016, thanks to our colleagues Sen. Lacson and budget chairperson, Sen. Legarda, an 8.3 billion peso budget was inserted into the 2017 General Appropriations Act. 

Thanks to this insertion, all 112 state universities and colleges eliminated the tuition fee charge for about 1.6 million students! 

 Take note Mr. President, dito sa P8.3 bilyon na ito, mayroon pa ring natitirang 4.9 billion na nasa budget allocation pong ito.

 This year, Mr. President, there is an additional 41 billion pesos in the 2018 budget to ensure that our countrymen will receive the full benefit of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. 

 Mr. President, this P41 billion is divided into two. 17.7 billion pesos for our newly created Tertiary Education Subsidy for college scholarships, and this can be availed of by students from both public and private universities. Of course, the remodeled and improved student loan program. 

 Of course, Mr. President, and more importantly, we have 23.3 billion pesos to cover tuition fees and other school fees, like miscellaneous fees, in our SUCs, LUCs and TESDA-run technical vocational schools. 

 Mr. President, this astounding 23.3 billion pesos can fund, not only the current second semester of Academic Year 2017-18, this the ongoing semester right now Mr. President, but it can also fund Academic School Year 2018-19. In short, sobra-sobra pa ang nailaan natin para sa budget sa libreng kolehiyo sa bansa.

— 

 Mr. President, the question is no longer should provide students with a free college education. The answer, Mr. President is yes because we passed the law. The question, Mr. President, is no longer whether we can afford it because in the 2018 GAA, sobra-sobra pa, from the 2017 GAA, mayroong P4-plus billion pang natitira. 

 The question, Mr. President is when? When will we implement this landmark law kung saan tayo nagkaisa at pinasa ang nakapagandang batas na ito? Kailan?

 When will our public universities and colleges provide free tuition and free miscellaneous expenses for the benefit of the students? 

When will this landmark law be fully implemented in out country? 

Pasado na ang batas. Napondohan na sa national budget at sapat na sapat ito.

 Kailan makikinabang ang mga estudyante, ang mga pamilyang Pilipino; kailan po makikinabang ang taumbayan sa libreng kolehiyo sa ating bansa?

— 

 Noong January 26, sinabi po ng CHED na sa Academic Year 2018-2019 pa raw ipapatupad ang libreng kolehiyo, which includes tuition and school fees.

 Ngunit, Mr. President, noong bicameral conference, at marami sa atin ang nandoon, and this was chaired by Sen. Escudero, nagkasundo ang kumite na on the record, nilagay natin na ang intensiyon ng mambabatas ay kasama ang 2nd semester sa implementation ng batas.

Sa ating nakalaang 2018 budget, Mr. President, kasama po ang libreng tuition at miscellaneous fees ng kasalukuyang semester sa ating napondohan. Alam ho natin ito dahil kasama natin ang CHED.

Senator Legarda can attest to this. We worked with CHED to include the second semester and the language needed to include the current semester in the 2018 budget.

In short, Mr. President, wala tayong nakikitang funding or legal requirement kung bakit hindi sinasama ang current semester sa implementation ng ating batas. Hindi po pondo ang problema, hindi po legalities and problema, ang problema, hindi ito ipinatutupad ng CHED.

 Mr. President, we witnessed this CHED employees and our LBRMO, through our office, worked together during the budget deliberations to ensure that the language of the budget provision allows for the fund to be used to cover tuition and other school fees for this current semester.

In short, napag-usapan poi to at binoto po natin ito when we passed the GAA. 

So, Mr. President, ang tanong – kailan ba talaga natin ipapatupad ang batas? 

 When will our students and their families experience the financial relief of a free college education? 

 Mr. President, CHED says tomorrow. But with the sense of the Senate resolution signed by practically everybody here in the Senate, we say, yesterday!  Yesterday, Mr. President, dapat napatupad na.

— 

 Yesterday, Mr. President, I went through videos, photos and stories of students who dream of a college education and of course, the parents who work tirelessly to make it happen. 

Na-meet ko Mr. President si Nanay Joana, isang microfinance beneficiary sa Batangas. Mr. President, pangarap niyang makapagtapos ng kolehiyo ang dalawa niyang anak kaya naman todo ang pagkayod ni Nanay Joana na nagtitinda ng samu’t saring produkto, nangungutang para makapagbayad ng tuition at iba pang school fees para sa kanyang anak sa Batangas State University.

Nandoon po si Aling Susana ng Zambales.  Siya’y mayroong apat na anak. Dalawa ang hindi na nakapagtuloy sa kolehiyo ngunit ang dalawa ay pursigido magtapos ng college. 

Dalawang taon nang tumigil ang kaniyang pangatlong anak ng pag-aaral dahil sa kahirapan sa buhay. Sa dalawang taon pong iyon, nag-ipon ang pamilya, nagtiyaga sa pangingisda, pagtatanim at pagbebenta ng kanilang ani. 

 Dahil sa libreng tuition, nag-aral na ng automotive course sa Ramon Magsaysay Technological University ang kaniyang anak na lalaki na 21 years old. Ito ang pinakabata ngunit nahihirapan pa rin at kailangan pa rin ng ayuda para matustusan ang lahat ng gastos.

Naririyan din si Kuya Noli, isang security guard sa Iloilo. Noong nagpunta ako kung saan siya nagtatrabaho, nabanggit ko sa isang interview na magiging libre na ang kolehiyo.  Sa kaniyang tuwa, napasigaw siya ng, “Buti na lang!” kasi mayroon siyang dalawang anak sa college.

Kahit nagtatrabaho siya bilang security at ang kanyang asawa ay labas-pasok bilang overseas Filipino, nahihirapan pa rin silang mabayaran ang gastos sa bahay at sa pag-aaral ng kanyang mga anak. 

 “Sa libreng tuition,” sabi ni Kuya Noli, “magkakaroon na ng magandang kinabukasan ang mga anak namin at makakatulong rin sila sa aming pamilya.” 

 Mr. President, umaasa po sina Nanay Joana, Aling Susana, Kuya Noli, at napakarami pang magulang sa kapangyarihan ng edukasyon. 

Umaasa sila sa oportunidad na mabuksan ng isang college degree para sa kanilang anak ang isang mas magandang bukas.

Araw-araw, buwan-buwan, taon-taon, sila’y kumakayod upang matustusan ang gastos sa bahay at mapaaral ang kanilang mga anak. 

Mr. President, kailangan nating tularan ang mga magulang na ito. Tulad po nila, pangalagahan natin ang edukasyon at manalig na ito’y isang mabisang solusyon upang matuldukan ang kahirapan sa ating bayan. 

Tulad ng mga mabubuting magulang na iyan, gawin po natin ang lahat upang mapaaral ng kolehiyo ang ating mga kabataan. 

 Let’s take inspiration from these stories, from the work that they put in, from the love that they give to their children, and countless Filipino families who work together, who exhaust all opportunities just to achieve a dream of prosperity. 

— 

  

Mr. President and dear colleagues, on January 24, 2016, I delivered my sponsorship speech enjoining you to stand behind free college education in the Philippines. And of course, everybody responded.

 This, Mr. President, if I’m not mistaken is still one of our priority bills in the 17th Congress. Many of us, Mr. President, took a stand and said we will pass free college education in the Philippines. Today, with the sense of the Senate, we take another stand to say that we want this implemented right now. Ngayon na po.

Mr. President, with my co-authors who I’d like to thank again — Senators Recto, Villanueva, Ejercito, Gatchalian, Pangilinan, Angara, Legarda, De Lima, Villar, Zubiri, Gordon and of course Senators Lacson and Legarda for the first budget allocation in 2017.

I would like to thank everyone from getting behind the sense of the Senate and to show our country that we stand behind our students who wish to get free education.

We stand especially for the parents and the breadwinners who worked non-stop so that their children can achieve their dreams.

I call on all of us to unite and demand for the full implementation of RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

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 rallies Senate to support full, immediate implementation of free college

Senator Bam Aquino enjoined his colleagues to push for the full and immediate implementation of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act at the start of the second semester of school year 2017-18.

 “Let’s push for the fulfillment of the free college law and relieve our students and their family members of financial burdens,” said Sen. Bam, the principal sponsor and co-author of the free college law, during his sponsorship speech of Senate Resolution No. 620 that he filed recently.

 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 Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

 “Students in public universities and colleges have the right to demand for the implementation of the free college law. Naisabatas at may pondo na ito,” asserted Sen. Bam.

 According to the senator, 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).

 “The non-issuance of IRR should not prevent the Executive faithfully executing the law. Ano pa ang hinihintay natin,” Sen. Bam pointed out in his resolution.

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.

After his speech, the Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Bam’s resolution.

 The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, principally sponsored by Sen. Bam, provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.

Scholarship grants and student loans will also be made available to students of both public and private college and universities.

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: Family expenses rising, implement free college law now

Senator Bam Aquino called out the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for its failure to fully implement the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which provides for free tuition and other miscellaneous expenses in state universities and colleges (SUCs). 

Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, reminded CHED that the law became effective last August 18, 2017, and should already cover the 2nd semester of school year 2017-2018 as manifested both during the bicameral conference and the ratification of the bill in the Senate.

 In addition, CHED also committed to this to Sen. Aquino’s office during the budget deliberations. The Congress and Senate allotted P40 billion in the 2018 national budget for its implementation.

 “Mahalagang maipatupad na ang free college law sa public universities and colleges, lalo pa’t nararamdaman na ng taumbayan ang epekto ng TRAIN sa presyo ng mga bilihin,” said Sen. Bam, referring to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) that was recently enacted into law by the Duterte government. 

 “Tumataas na nga ang presyo ng bilihin, pinagbabayad pa rin ng mga eskuwelahan ang ating mahihirap na pamilya samantalang libre na dapat ang tuition, pati miscellaneous fees,” said Sen. Bam, who voted against the ratification of TRAIN. 

The law provides free education to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs) and TESDA-run vocational schools.

 Aside from tuition fees, the government will shoulder miscellaneous and all other mandatory fees.

Scholarship grants will be made available to students of both public and private college and universities. It also provides a new and improved student loan program, where students can apply for financing for other education expenses.

 In addition, students taking post-graduate studies can avail of the new and improved student loan program and scholarships under the law. 

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.

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