' .. TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session 25 JUL -7 A9:56 SENATE S. No. 169 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT" EXPLANATORY NOTE Undeniably, education is essential to inclusive growth. Children who are not in school are likely to be disadvantaged, and the conditions faced by these children can reinforce, if not exacerbate, existing socio-economic inequalities. Most out-of-school youth come from the lower income families, raising the oft-quoted concern that poverty is the root cause of failure to finish school. This comes as a great irony when considered alongside the fact that education serves as a great equalizer, affording those from lower income levels the opportunity to lift their families out of poverty. It is for this reason that former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. This landmark legislation institutionalized free tertiary education in State Universities and Colleges, and Local Universities and Colleges. In 2022, the Commission on Higher Education reported that more than two million Filipino students have benefitted from the law since it was signed in 2017. While the law has been meaningful in changing the lives of millions of students, geographical considerations and limitations in the range of
courses offered in public higher education institutions hinder students from pursing their desired degree. In consideration of the State's mandate to "assign the highest budgetary priority to education", the bill aims to expand the coverage of the Tertiary Education Subsidy. This bill also seeks to establish a voucher program as an option for qualified students who opt to study in private higher education institutions. Through this measure, qualified students will be able to enroll in courses and programs that they desire and not be limited to courses offered in public higher education institutions. In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly, sought. SENATOR CHRISTORMER AN ENCE DONG T DO
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES First Regular Session JUL -7 A9:56 SENATE S. No. 169 INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO AN ACT EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT" Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
Section 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to
Quality Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows: "Sec. 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof, a TES is hereby established IN ALL SUCS, LUCS, PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS for all Filipino students who [shall] enroll in THE undergraduate, post-secondary TERTIARY EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING program[s] [of SUCs, LUEs, private HEls and all TVIS] OF THEIR CHOICE. The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the RESPECTIVE budgets of the CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That prioritization shall be given to QUALIFIED students in the following order: (a) students ENROLLED IN SUCS, LUCS and PUBLIC TVIS who are part of households included in the UPDATED OR MOST RECENT Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita household income; [and] (b) students ENROLLED IN SUCS, LUCS
and PUBLIC TVIS WHO ARE 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[: Provided, further, That such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities and municipalities with no existing SUE or LUe campus]; (C) STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE NO ESTABLISHED SUC, LUC, OR PUBLIC TVI; AND (D) STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE ESTABLISHED SUCS, LUCS, OR PUBLIC TVIS BUT DOES NOT OFFER COMPARABLE OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE PROGRAMS, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR TES: PROVIDED, THAT THE CHED, IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES CONCERNED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT, SHALL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIES TO BE GRANTED, AND THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TES BENEFICIARIES. "TO SUPPORT THE COST OF TERTIARY EDUCATION OR ANY PART OR PORTION THEREOF, [FIthe TES may, among others, [and to support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof,] cover the following: "(a) Tuition and other school fees in private HEIs, and private or LGU-operated TVIs which shall be equivalent to the tuition and other school fees of the nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective areas; "(b) [An] A[alllowance for books, SCHOOL supplies, transportation TO AND FROM SCHOOL, and [miscellaneous personal expenses, including al reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of [a personal computer or laptop] DESKTOP OR PORTABLE
COMPUTERS and other education-related expenses, IF APPLICABLE; "(c) An allowance for room and board costs incurred by the student IF APPLICABLE; "(d) xxx. "(e) xxx. "ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCH BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE, POST-SECONDARY TERTIARY EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL PROGRAMS: PROVIDED, THAT THE TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL COMPLY WITH THE RETENTION AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE HEIS AND TVIS."
Sec. 2. A new Section denominated as Section 7A is hereby inserted after
Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 to read as follows:
"SEC. 7A. VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS. - THERE SHALL BE A PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO SUPPORT POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS THROUGH A VOUCHER SYSTEM TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD THAT SHALL ALLOW BENEFICIARIES TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIS AND PRIVATE TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCS, LUCS, AND PUBLIC TVIS. THE ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS UNDER THE VOUCHER SYSTEM SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD, BASED ON REASONABLE ECONOMIC AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, NOT LATER THAN THE START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR AS DETERMINED BY THE CHED, AND, IN THE CASE OF TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL STUDENTS, NOT LATER THAN THE PERIOD DESIGNATED BY THE TESDA, AND PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAM OR COURSE.
STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIS AND PRIVATE TVIS WHO ARE TES 2 GRANTEES CAN NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE VOUCHER SYSTEM. ALL 3 VOUCHERS ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR 4 THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED 5 STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIS AND PRIVATE TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCS, LUCS 7 AND PUBLIC TVIS." FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM THE 9 EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL COMMISSION A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE COST OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES FOR PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH SHALL BE THE NOMINAL VALUE OF THE VOUCHER UNDER THE SYSTEM. THE AMOUNT OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES SHALL BE REVIEWED EVERY THREE (3) YEARS TO ALLOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO INFLATION."
Sec. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise affected shall remain valid and subsisting.
Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
Sec. 5. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. Approved,