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[av_heading heading=’ Senate passes bill on free tuition in SUCs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
By Prince Golez, Manila Reporter
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Wednesday, March 15, 2017
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MANILA – The bill establishing full tuition subsidies and financial assistance to Filipino students enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and private higher learning and vocational institutions was approved on its third and final reading in the Upper House.
Senate Bill No. 1304, or the Free Higher Education for All Act, sponsored and authored by Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, hurdled the Senate floor with 18 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention.
Aquino said the bill aims to make “higher education accessible to financially disadvantaged but deserving students,” through tuition subsidies and financial assistance to SUCs.
All Filipinos currently enrolled at SUCs and other covered institutions can qualify for the tuition subsidy, SBN 1304 said.
The measure also seeks to create a Commission on Higher Education-administered SUC Tuition Subsidy Fund, a funding source for the implementation of the full tuition subsidy for qualified students.
“This bill is for the Filipino youth who are struggling to finish their college education, and as well as their parents who are working hard to pay for the expenses of their schooling,” the senator said.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said that investing in education is the “best form of investment” and guarantees high returns.
“Some will only see the billions in this measure and warn of the deficit they might incur. But let us see them for what they really are – as means to realize dreams,” Recto said.
With the passage of the bill, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said Filipinos from marginalized sectors will have the opportunity to avail of quality education.
Gatchalian, also the vice chairman of the education committee said that 93 percent of students enrolled in SUCs come from working-class households.
“This is a collective victory for those of us who believe that equitable access to education at all levels is the foundation upon which we may build a just and prosperous future for our country,” he said.
SBN 1304 was co-authored by senators Sonny Angara, Leila de Lima, Joseph Victor Ejercito, Richard Gordon, Loren Legarda, Francis Pangilinan, Cynthia Villar, Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri./PN
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