ZAMBOANGA CITY — Some 50,000 students from the region are set to initially benefit from free higher education pursuant to Republic Act 10931 otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Education Act.
Dr. Juanito Demetrio, Commission on Higher Education (CHED) regional director, made this announcement on Monday during the launching of the nationwide information caravan for R.A. 10931 in this city.
R.A. 10931 that grants free higher education was signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte on August 3, this year.
“50,000 students will benefit of this free education in Region 9,” Demetrio told the Philippine News Agency.
The national government has an initial budget allocation of PHP40 billion for the implementation of R.A. 10931 effective school year 2018-2019.
The students may enroll at any course in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) with free tuition and miscellaneous fees.
The miscellaneous fees include the following: library; computer; laboratory; school ID; athletic; admission; development; guidance; handbooks; entrance; registration; medical and dental; and, cultural.
Lawyer Carmelita Yadao-Sison, OIC Executive Director of the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), said many will benefit from the program as K to 12 graduates are expected to go to college this year.
“There will be an influx of students since we already have K to 12 graduates who will enroll in college,” Sison said adding: “its good since many students can avail of the free higher education.”
Also to benefit from the free higher education are the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and those in the Technical Vocational Educational Institutions (TVEIs).
Sison said there is no more reason for a student not to finish studies since the program, through R.A. 10931, in already in place.
The nationwide information caravan for R.A. 10931 held here on Monday was the first to be conducted in the entire country.
The information caravan was attended by education stakeholders from Region 9. (PNA)
