Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved on Wednesday, Feb. 15, a P3.410 billion special allotment release order (SARO) for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
The SARO and its Notice of Cash Allocation (NCA) will cover the tertiary education for all Filipino students in Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-registered technical vocational institutions.
The DBM said TESDA targets 54,783 individuals to benefit from the program in 2023.
This will cover beneficiaries’ tuition fees, miscellaneous fees, accident insurance, trainee provision, health and protective equipment, internet allowance, starter tool kits, national assessment fees and other school fees.
The DBM said the fund will be chargeable against the 2023 budget of TESDA which is under the Department of Labor and Employment.
Pangandaman described the release as timely, as the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. prioritizes education and human capital development.
“The best investment for the youth of our country is education. Malaking tulong po ang Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education sa ating mga mag-aaral. This will ensure that no Filipino student is left behind,” she said.
Marcos stated in his budget message that the government will “upskill and reskill” the labor force through measures that will aid continuing education, digital learning, training, and redeployment. – Katrina Gracia Consebido-ag
