SUCs told: Stop collecting miscellaneous fees

UPON the prodding of Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino 4th, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) will issue a memorandum prohibiting state universities and colleges ( SUCs) from charging mandatory fees.

The senator noted that under Republic Act ( RA) 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” SUCs are barred from collecting miscellaneous and other mandatory fees from students.

During the interpellation of the CHEd budget, Aquino expressed concern over reports that some SUCs continue to collect miscellaneous fees.

“Under our law, SUCs are prohibited from collecting manda-

percent compliance of the law,” Aquino said.

“In our rounds of SUCs, we learned that there were some of them who plan to collect miscellaneous fees,” said Aquino, principal sponsor of RA 10931.

In response, CHEd Chairman Prospero de Vera agreed to issue a memorandum that will clarify and warn SUCs that students “should not pay a single centavo” to enroll in an SUC, LUC (local university and college) or technical- vocational institute run by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Aquino also sought to expand the coverage of the free college law to cover on-the-job training,

- dents, and other Related Learning Experiences (RLEs).

He also pushed for better support for SUCs through additional plantilla position for non-teaching personnel, such as security personnel, registrar, guidance counselors, resident ombudsman, among others.

The Department of Budget and Management ( DBM) committed to allocate money for this endeavor.

Aquino said once the CHEd gave its recommendation, SUCs caould start hiring non-teaching personnel next year.