BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya”•The national government has allotted P48 billion for state universities and colleges like the Nueva Vizcaya State University to carry out the free tuition fee law for students who will be taking up various college courses this year.
Ramir Hongo, NVSU’s focal person on Free Education Law, said P8 billion will be spent for the 2017 Free Tuition law funded under the 2017 General Appropriations Act, while the P40 billion will be used to roll out the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931.
“We have just received the initial fund for the 2017 free tuition law and we are still waiting for the remaining fund for this law,” Hongo said.
He said the 2017 Free Tuition Act will be implemented from June 2017 to March 2018 and August 2017 to May 2018 only, which covers free tuition among Filipino undergraduates.
This is based on the admission and retention policies of the university, availability of funds, prioritization for poor students and those with permanent Student Financial Assistance Program P15,000 and below which will be provided by SUCs.
The UAQTEA, composed of the Free Higher Education, Free Technical and Vocational Education Training, Tertiary Education Subsidy, and Student Loans Program, will be implemented from January 2018 to 2019 onwards.
The FHE provides free tuition for all courses, subjects, and classes, including free miscellaneous and other school fees for undergraduates, which will be provided by SUCs and local universities and colleges recognized by the Commission on Higher Education.
The FTVET offers training-related expenses, living allowance, starter toolkit and cost of accreditation for learners enrolled in a Technical Education and Skills Authority-registered TVET program and learners who are not holders of National Certification 3 or higher.
The TES gives tuition and other fees for private Higher Education Institutions (TES 1), other educational expenses (TES 2) and special expenses if necessary (TES 3).
This covers students using TES benefits for post-secondary higher education program, students using TES benefits for post-secondary TVET programs registered under TESDA, for programs and institutions in the registry, and students qualified under the admission, retention policies of institutions and any future qualifications policies.
The SLP hands loan proceeds for educational purposes to all tertiary-level students qualified and enrolled in programs and institutions in the registry.
Hongo said the miscellaneous fees covered by RA 10931 are library, computer, laboratory, school ID, athletic, admission, development, guidance, handbook, entrance, registration, medical and dental and cultural fees.
The benefits covered by TES 3 are the cost of obtaining professional credentials, for students in programs that require professional licenses and certifications and allowance for expenses related to disability for students with special needs.
