Despite strong opposition from the government’s economic managers, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law a measure that will provide free tuition in state universities and colleges (SUCs).
Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra announced Duterte’s move on August 3 during the Mindanao Hour held at Conrad Manila, saying that “a lot of discussions” were held to discuss its “heavy budgetary implications”.
“Free tertiary education in state universities and colleges is a very strong pillar and cornerstone of the President’s social development policy,” Guevarra said. “He weighed everything and came to the conclusion that the long-term benefits that will be derived from a well-developed tertiary education.”
Duterte signed the Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to QUality Tertiary Education Act hours before it would have lapsed into law.
RA 10931 guarantees free tuition for students in 112 SUCs across the country.
Guevarra said the budget for the mandatory provisions would be around P16 billion (Dh1.17 billion).
He said the law covers subsidy for free tuition and other fees. Miscellaneous fees such as allowances for books and boarding should be covered by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education.
The signing of the bill was initially put in perils after 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” in SUCs.
Senators Francis Escudero, JV Ejercito, and Bam Aquino urged the government to see free education as an investment, rather than an expense.
