By Ma. Teresa Montemayor/Philippine News Agency
MANILA — The long line of students wanting to be a beneficiary of the Commission on Higher Education’s (CHED) financial assistance program is an indication of the positive impact of the free college education law to Filipino students, an official said on Wednesday.
In a statement, CHED chair J. Prospero de Vera III said the full implementation of Republic Act 10931 or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act has encouraged more youth to finish college.
College students who want to avail of the Student Financial Assistance Programs (STuFAPS) are given from February until the end of the month to file their applications.
“Kamakailan ay naging usap-usapan sa social media at sa ilang balita ang haba ng pila ng mga estudyanteng nagnanais maging benepisyaryo ng STuFAPS. Ibinalita sa isang istasyon ng telebisyon na sinisisi raw ng komisyon ang mga estudyanteng pumipila dahil kung kailan malapit na ang deadline ay saka lamang sila nagsusumite ng aplikasyon sa CHED (The long line of students seeking to be beneficiaries of STuFAPS has been trending in the social media and some news. One television station reported that the commission is blaming the students who have submitted their applications close to the deadline for the long line),” he said.
StuFAPS are government-funded scholarships, grants-in-aid, student loans, subsidies, and other incentives for qualified students who want to finish college or technical-vocational courses.
De Vera belied the report, noting that the increasing number of students seeking scholarships and grants-in-aid represent the bulk of Filipino youth needing financial assistance to reach their goal of earning a college degree.
He said a new system would be implemented in 2020 where scholarship applicants could submit their application forms and requirements online, or drop boxes where applicants can leave their documents or requirements.
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