Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) First Or SESSIONS First Regular Session 25 JUL -3 36:12 SENATE S. No. 130 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 3 AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT', TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM EXPLANATORY NOTE When Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, was passed in 2017, it marked a bold and historic step toward making quality higher education accessible to every Filipino. It opened the doors of education institutions to students who had long been held back by financial constraints. For many, this law represented an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through education. However, as the law has been implemented across the country, gaps in coverage, prioritization, and delivery have become increasingly evident. Despite the establishment of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to assist underprivileged students with education-related expenses, many of the most vulnerable, especially youth from 4Ps households, continue to fall through the cracks due to unclear criteria, bottlenecks in disbursement, and a lack of guaranteed access. This proposed measure thus seeks to amend RA 10931 to ensure that the law fulfills its original intent more effectively and equitably. It guarantees that all eligible 4Ps beneficiaries who complete Senior High School and are accepted into CHED- recognized Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will receive TES. In addition, the bill introduces clearer mechanisms for prioritizing TES recipients, giving due preference to the most economically disadvantaged. Finally, the amendments strengthen accountability and transparency by mandating a monitoring and evaluation system for TES implementation, encouraging better coordination among government agencies, and ensuring timely disbursement of subsidies. Education should never be a privilege reserved for the few. It must be a right guaranteed for all. This legislation affirms and renews that promise, with a sharper focus on equity, clarity, and compassion for Filipino youth. It ensures that public

investment in higher education becomes a bridge to opportunity, social mobility, and national development. In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought. Bama Guint

TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) Fist Regular SSO PINES S First Regular Session JUL -3 76:12 SENATE S. No. 130 Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV AN ACT AMENDING SECTIONS 3 AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT", TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled: 1 Section 1. Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality 2 Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: "SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 4 XXX (h) Other school fees refer to fees charged by HEis and technical-vocational institutions which cover other necessary costs supportive of instruction, specifically the following: library fees, computer fees, laboratory fees, school ID 8 fees, athletic fees, admission fees, development fees, guidance fees, handbook fees, entrance fees, registration fees, medical and dental fees, cultural fees, INTERNSHIP AND RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE (RLE) FEES REQUIRED BY THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING THOSE FOR NURSING AND OTHER ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS, and other similar or related fees; 13 Sec. 2. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary 14 Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:

1 "SECTION 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary education or 2 any part or portion thereof, a Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is hereby established 3 for all Filipino students who shall enroll in undergraduate post-secondary programs of 4 SUCS, LUCs, private HEIs and all TVIs. The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST 5 Board and the amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the budgets of 6 the CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That [prioritization shall be given to students in 7 the following order: (a) students who are part of households included in the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita household income, and 9 (b) students not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per capita household income based on submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board] ALL POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS FROM QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD-BENEFICIARIES OF THE THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS), AS PROVIDED UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11310, SHALL BE GUARANTEED TES GRANTEES, UPON SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND ACCEPTANCE INTO A CHED-RECOGNIZED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION OR A TESDA-RECOGNIZED TVI: Provided, further, That [such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities and municipality with no existing SUC op LUC campus] SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABLE FUNDS, THE REMAINING TES SLOTS SHALL BE AWARDED BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED, AS DETERMINED BY THE HOUSEHOLD PER CAPITA INCOME OF APPLICANTS, TO BE ASSESSED BY THE RESPECTIVE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS OR TVIS, IN 23 ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES TO BE ISSUED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD: PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT TES GRANTEES SHALL BE GUARANTEED CONTINUED SUPPORT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THEIR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR TVET PROGRAM, SUBJECT TO THE 27 MAINTENANCE OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC OR TRAINING PERFORMANCE, AND COMPLIANCE WITH INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES. 29 The TES may, among others, and to support the cost of tertiary education or any part 30 or portion thereof, cover the following:

1 (a) FULL [T]tuition and other school fees (TOSF) in private HEIs, and private or LGU- 2 operated TVIs, which shall be equivalent to the tuition and other school fees of the 3 nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective areas: PROVIDED, THAT SUCH 4 TOSF SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE AMOUNT SPENT BY GOVERNMENT 5 PER STUDENT UNDER THE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SUCS 6 AND LUCS; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN CASES WHERE THE TOSF 7 EXCEED THIS AVERAGE AMOUNT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL 8 ADMINISTER GUIDELINES IN SETTING THE AMOUNT OF THE TES; 9 (b) An allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal computer or laptop, and other education-related expenses; (c) An allowance for room and board cost incurred by the student; (d) For a student with a disability, an allowance for expenses related to the student's disability, including special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred; [and] (e) INTERNSHIP AND RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE (RLE) FEES THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING THOSE FOR NURSING AND OTHER ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS; AND (F) For a student in a program requiring professional license or certification, the one (1)-time cost of obtaining the first professional credentials or qualifications, which may include the following: application fees, notarial fees, review classes fees, insurance premium fees and documentation fees: Provided, That the amount of subsidy shall be based on the guidelines set forth by the UniFAST Board and on the annual budgetary appropriation for this purpose."

Sec. 2. A new Section 7-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:

"SECTION 7-A. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND QUALITY 27 ASSURANCE OF THE TES. - THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL: (A) IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND VALIDATION TO ENSURE THAT TES ALLOWANCES ARE UTILIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH

1 THE PURPOSES PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 7, AND IMPOSE SANCTIONS, 2 INCLUDING DISQUALIFICATION NON-COMPLIANCE; 3 (B) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DBM AND COMMISSION ON AUDIT 4 (COA), DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT DISBURSEMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE 5 DISBURSEMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT COST, TO ENSURE TES 6 BENEFICIARIES RECEIVE THEIR SUBSIDIES DURING THE SEMESTER FOR 7 WHICH THEY ARE APPLYING THE TES AS WELL AS TO FUND THE 8 PROVISION OF LEARNER SUPPORT SERVICES, AND MAY UTILIZE THE 9 PHILIPPINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (PHILSYS) TO FACILITATE THE 10 VALIDATION OF ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES; 11 (C) COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM THAT INFORMS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS UNDER THE 4PS OF THEIR AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE TES; AND, (D) MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE TES PROGRAM EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS, INCLUDING THE UTILIZATION OF AN ONLINE INFORMATION SYSTEM TO MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF TES GRANTEES WHILE THEY ARE IN THE HEI, 19 AND TRACER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEIS TO 20 ASSESS AND ENHANCE THE PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, 21 AND UTILIZE THE PHILSYS NUMBERS OF TES GRANTEES FOR 22 MONITORING AND EVALUATION PURPOSES. FURTHER, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEIS SHALL UTILIZE THE PHILSYS NUMBERS OF TES GRANTEES FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION PURPOSES AND LIKEWISE PROVIDE LEARNER SUPPORT SERVICES TO TES BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CAREER COUNSELING, BRIDGING PROGRAMS, AND TUTORIALS. THE CHED, IN COORDINATION WITH THE UNIFAST BOARD, SHALL 29 ESTABLISH A REGULAR QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESS FOR HEIS 30 ENROLLING TES GRANTEES. THIS SHALL INCLUDE PERIODIC

1 ASSESSMENTS OF BOTH INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND PROGRAM 2 QUALITY, WITH A FOCUS ON ACADEMIC STANDARDS, GRADUATE 3 EMPLOYABILITY, AND OTHER RELEVANT OUTCOMES, AND COMPLIANCE 4 WITH CHED POLICIES. HEIS FAILING TO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALITY 5 STANDARDS SHALL BE REEVALUATED AND MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM 6 ENROLLING NEW TES GRANTEES UNTIL COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED. 7 Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the 8 effectivity of this Act, the UniFAST Board, in consultation with the CHED, DepEd, 9 DSWD, TESDA, and other stakeholders in higher and technical education, shall promulgate the revised implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 10931 necessary to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the Board to promulgate the said rules and regulations shall not prevent or delay the effectivity and implementation of this Act. 14 Sec. 5. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,

letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,