THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Wednesday it has approved the release of additional P3.84 billion for the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
In a statement, the DBM said around 141,000 eligible tertiary education students can now be assured of free or subsidized college education.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to P3.84 billion for the purpose.
“Like what we have been saying, our youth are the torchbearers of our future. That is why it’s important that we support them by developing their skills and uplifting their spirits. That is also the marching order of our President because he knows the importance of education. So, on our part, we will continue to help democratize access to quality education,” Pangandaman said.
The amount released shall cover the payables of CHED to various private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in municipalities and cities with no state universities and colleges (SUCs) and no local universities and colleges (LUCs)’ under the UAQTE-TES for Academic Year 2021-2022.
As of Dec. 31, 2022, the CHED-Higher Education Development Fund (HEDF) stood at P10.967 billion under automatic appropriations.
Prior to the latest release in the amount of P3.835 billion, the DBM has previously released an amount of P799.098 million on Feb. 3, 2023 for various programs and projects of CHED and an amount of P1 billion for the implementation of Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Program on Aug. 29, 2023. Thus, the estimated balance after the Sept. 29 release will be P5.33 billion.
As coordinated with CHED, the corresponding notice of allocation (NCA) may be requested upon obligation, subject to the submission of a Special Budget Request, together with the complete and consistent supporting documents.
Republic Act (RA) No. 10931, otherwise known as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act is “an act promoting universal access to quality tertiary education by providing free tuition and other school fees in State Universities and Colleges, Local Universities and Colleges, and State-Run Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs), establishing the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Student Loan Program, strengthening the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education, and appropriating fund therefore.”
According to the law, all Filipino students who will enrol in courses leading to a bachelor’s degree in any SUCs and LUCs will be exempted from paying tuition and other school fees.
The TES, meanwhile, is a grant-in-aid program of the government that supports the cost of tertiary education of Filipino students who enrol in their first undergraduate-post-secondary program in SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs, and TVIs. It is one of the major components of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
