Angara: College allowances are mandated by law

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara reminded the government yesterday that poor stu-

dents are entitled to allowances under the free college law.

Angara said the government should ensure that poor students would benefit from the subsidy that would cover not only tuition but also other school expenses as mandated under Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Our students can finally enjoy the benefits under the free college law starting next school year,” Angara said.

“Bukod sa libreng matrikula at miscellaneous fees, may dagdag tulong pinansyal ito para sa mga mahihirap na magaaral para sa gastusin sa mga libro, pamasahe, dorm, at iba pa, (Other than free tuition and miscellaneous fees, the law provides additional financial assistance to poor students for their books, transportation needs, dormitory fees and other expenses),” he added.

Angara has lauded the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board for finally coming up with the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the free college law.

The law has an initial funding of 140-billion which covers the tuition, miscellaneous and other school fees of students enrolled in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs), 78 local universities and colleges (LUCs), and all technical-vocation education and training (TVET) programs registered under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

He said the law requires SUCs, LUCs and TVET institutions to formulate and implement affirmative action programs to enhance access of disadvantaged students, such as lumad, Muslims, and other indigenous peoples; persons with disabilities; students from public schools; and students from depressed areas.

Under the law, Angara highlighted the creation of a Tertiary Education Subsidy which will cover the allowance for books, supplies, transportation, room and board, personal computer or laptop, and other education-related personal expenses of poor students. This subsidy would also provide financial support for the tuition and other fees of poor students enrolled in private colleges and universities.

Students included in the “Listahanan” would be prioritized as eligible beneficiaries of the subsidy and be managed by the UniFAST Board.

Entrance exam fees Meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called on college and university administrators to consider lowering their entrance examination fees.

Pimentel said some parents of college-eligible students had approached him and complained about the “prohibitive” rates currently being charged by the major universities in the country.

The Senate leader said it is understandable for these students to want to have options when they apply for college, and naturally their parents want to give them the opportunities.

“But if applying at one school requires a 1500 fee, then applying to four, five schools can be quite expensive,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel said that even large state universities like the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) charge rates similar to private schools – but have thousands more applicants.