President Marcos signs law expanding government assistance to tertiary students

President Marcos signs into law the amendments to Republic Act 10931 or the Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education at Malacañang yesterday.

Noel Pabalate

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos signed a law expanding government assistance to college or vocational course students from poor households, including qualified beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Republic Act 12325 or An Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education amended RA 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Under the new law, poor and deserving students taking priority programs who are not covered by existing grants may also receive government support to pursue their studies in qualified private higher education and technical-vocational institutions. 

RA 12325 broadens coverage of government support to include internship or other professional licensure costs and allowances for students with disabilities.

The new law also established the Private Education Assistance, a program which will support disadvantaged students in priority programs at private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.

In addition, it requires regular adjustment of grants, mandating the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Board to review and adjust tertiary education subsidy every two years to account for inflation and changing education costs.

Commission on Higher Education Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said they will work with partner agencies to ensure that the benefits of the law reach the students who need them most.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education welcomed the enactment, saying the new law tightens the targeting of financial assistance s, expanding support to students and building new safeguards for implementation. — Bella Cariaso