By Brian Campued
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to prioritizing education as a key pillar of nation-building, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated his commitment to improve access to higher education opportunities, especially for disadvantaged students.
President Marcos Jr. remarked in a keynote address during the 58th Commencement Exercises of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City on Thursday.
The President also received the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa—PLM’s highest honorary degree—in recognition of his efforts to advance economic development, access to education, public health services, and social equity.
“I receive this honor with gratitude, mindful of the responsibility that comes with it,” he said, noting that the recognition affirms the principle shared by the administration and the university that education must remain a “pathway to opportunity, a catalyst for progress, and a cornerstone of nation-building.”
The Chief Executive also highlighted the government’s efforts to expand access to higher education and technical-vocational training programs, particularly for students from disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors.
He cited the continuous implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education law as well as the expansion of government financial assistance.
According to Marcos Jr., programs such as Free Higher Education now benefit 2.62 million students, while the Tertiary Education Subsidy and the Tulong Dunong Program continue to provide scholarships and financial support.
The government has also launched the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program for outstanding senior high school graduates pursuing priority degree programs.
The President stressed that through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the administration is working to “ensure that young Filipinos can pursue the path best suited to their skills and aspirations, whether through a college degree or technical-vocational training.”
“Every Filipino who completes higher education or training represents far more than a diploma or a certificate earned. This achievement gives someone a fairer chance to succeed, brings a family closer to a better future, equips a worker with the knowledge and skills for greater opportunities,” he said.
“Ito ang tunay na bunga ng edukasyon—mas abot-kamay, de-kalidad, at nagbibigay sa bawat Pilipino ng pagkakataong makamit ang mas magandang kinabukasan,” he added.
Before concluding his speech, President Marcos Jr. also urged the graduates to “remain true to the ideals” of the PLM and contribute to building a “stronger, more prosperous, and more compassionate” Bagong Pilipinas.
In February this year, the President visited PLM for the groundbreaking of its new College of Allied Health Sciences Building located within the Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC) complex in Malate, Manila.
The building will feature modern classrooms, laboratories, simulation rooms, research facilities and faculty offices, and will house programs in Medicine, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Medical Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Radiologic Technology.
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