Senators called on the economic managers of the Duterte administration to overturn its stance against granting free tuition in state universities in colleges.
The Senate and the House of Representative has ratified the final version of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, which will provide free tuition for students in 112 SUCs, local universities and colleges, and government-run technical-vocational schools.
However, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia opposed the proposed policy because it will benefit “non-poor” students”.
Senator Francis Escudero, chairman of the Senate education committee, said free tuition and other fees in SUCs, local colleges and tech-vocs would only cost P28 billion, which is only 0.3 percent of the proposed P3.8 trillion 2018 General Appropriations Act.
Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito said the administration should regard free education as “investment in the future” rather than an expense.
“If the government can spend P70 billion a year for Conditional Cash Transfer, why can’t we spend P28 billion for higher education? I would rather invest for higher education since this is the best way out of poverty and not through dole outs,” Ejercito said.
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