President Rodrigo Duterte admitted that the government has yet to determine how free tuition in state-run universities and colleges (SUCs) and technical-vocational schools will be funded.
“Ewan ko, tingnan natin. Kasi ang pag-approve ng Congress, alam naman nila walang pera. Eh pagdating sa akin alam ko man na walang pera, ‘pirmahan natin ito,’” he told reporters in an interview.
The President signed Republic Act 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” despite opposition from his economic managers.
Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia pegged the budget for free college education at P100 billion (Dh7.29 billion).
Diokno said the law, which will cover 112 SUCs, would be implemented for school year 2018 to 2019 regardless of financial standing.
DBM is set to convene with the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, members of the academe, House Appropriations Committee, and Senate Finance Committee to determine the budget for the free college education law.
Photo credit: PCOO EDP, Wikipedia
