Gov’t implements P16-B subsidy for private tertiary education

The government is all set for the implementation of the P16-billion subsidy program for college students across the country.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement with almost 1,000 private higher education institutions (HEIs) for the implementation of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), a component program of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“It is historic because we have completed a task that looked almost impossible when the law was passed,” CHED chairman J. Prospero de Vera III said during the signing of the agreement.

“We’ve cracked our heads for the past couple of months for the implementing rules and regulations and vetted the possible TES beneficiaries. And today, we will sign the memorandum of agreement to create the legal basis for the money to reach our poor but deserving students,” De Vera added.

The TES is a grants-in-aid program designed for poor students enrolled in public and private HEIs.

It will provide beneficiaries financial assistance ranging from P40,000 to P60,000 per year, covering tuition and other school fees, allowance for books, transportation, supplies, room and board fees, and other education-related expenses.

De Vera said they have received 1.1 million applications for the 300,000 slots allotted for the program for the current school year.

The signing of the agreement will pave the way for the transfer of funds to private schools with TES beneficiaries.

“RA 10931 provides the mechanism for the complementation of public and private HEIs’ efforts to provide access to quality higher education. This joint effort between public and private HEIs will ensure that we will produce a more educated, better trained and highly employable workforce for the future,” he said.

“Because we are giving stipends for the whole academic year, next year, we will only worry about the incoming freshmen, so the task is easier and with your help and support, we will make sure that TES beneficiaries are identified earlier and the money is downloaded faster,” he added.