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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill provides a voucher system for poor and academically competitive 
students who choose to study in private or local government unit (LGU)-operated 
tertiary vocational institutions (TVIs) in cities and municipalities with existing 
state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) and public TVIs.  
Among other salient provisions, this measure covers tuition and other school 
fees, room and board costs, books, school supplies, transportation, 
transportation to and from school, and other education-related expenses, as well 
as an allowance for books, school supplies, transportation to and from school, 
and miscellaneous personal expenses. In addition, all beneficiaries of the 
voucher system will continue to receive such benefits or subsidies until they 
complete their post-secondary education. 
Hence, this representation seeks the passage of this measure.      
RUDYS CAESAR G. FARIÑAS I 
March 6, 2023
5:22 pm
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Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Nineteenth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. _____ 
Introduced by Representative Rudys Caesar G. Fariñas I 
AN ACT 
EXPANDING THE COVERAGE OF THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY, 
AMENDING        FOR THE PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE  “UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION 
ACT”      
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access to
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Quality Tertiary   Education Act” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
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“SEC. 7.     TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY (TES) for Filipino 
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Students. – To support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion 
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thereof, a TES is hereby established IN ALL SUCs, LUCs, PRIVATE HEIs 
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AND TVIs for all Filipino students who [shall] enroll in THE FIRST 
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undergraduate, post-secondary TERTIARY EDUCATION program[s] [of 
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SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs and all TVIs] OF THEIR CHOICE. The TES shall 
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be administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to fund 
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the TES shall be included in the RESPECTIVE budgets of the CHED and 
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the TESDA: Provided, That prioritization shall be given to students in the 
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following order: (a) students who are part of households included in the 
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UPDATED Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita 
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household income; and (b) students not part of the Listahanan 2.0, 
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ranked according to estimated per capita household income based on 
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submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the 
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UniFAST Board: Provided, further, That such prioritization shall not apply 
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to Filipino students in cities and municipalities with no existing SUC or 
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LUC campus AND PUBLIC TVI.   
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THERE SHALL BE A PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION IN 
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THE FORM OF A VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR AND ACADEMICALLY 
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COMPETENT STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND 
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PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE 
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EXISTING SUCs, LUCs AND PUBLIC TVIs. STUDENTS FROM LISTAHANAN 
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HOUSEHOLDS SHALL BE PRIORITIZED AS BENEFICIARIES OF THE TES 
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IN AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NO EXISTING SUCs, LUCs AND PUBLIC 
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TVIs.  
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ALL VOUCHERS ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE USED 
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EXCLUSIVELY 
FOR 
THE 
PURPOSE 
OF 
ASSISTING 
POOR 
AND 
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ACADEMICALLY COMPETENT STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE 
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HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE 
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ARE EXISTING SUCs, LUCs AND PUBLIC TVIs.  
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TO SUPPORT THE COST OF TERTIARY EDUCATION OR ANY PART 
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OR PORTION THEREOF, [T]the TES may, among others, [and to support the 
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cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof,] cover the following: 
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(a) Tuition and other school fees in private HEIs, and private or LGU-
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operated TVIs, which shall be equivalent to the tuition and other school 
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fees of the nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective areas; 
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(b) [An] Allowance for books, SCHOOL supplies, transportation TO AND 
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FROM SCHOOL, and [miscellaneous personal expenses, including a] 
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reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a [personal 
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computer or laptop] DESKTOP OR PORTABLE COMPUTER WHEN 
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APPLICABLE [and other education-related expenses];   
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(c) An allowance for room and board costs incurred by the student WHEN 
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APPLICABLE;  
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(d) xxx 
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(e)   xxx      
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      ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCH 
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BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THEIR POST-
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SECONDARY 
TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
COURSE 
OR 
HIGHER 
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EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAM: PROVIDED, THAT THEY DO NOT FAIL IN 
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ANY 
SUBJECT 
ENROLLED 
IN 
AND 
COMPLY 
WITH 
RESIDENCY 
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REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE HEIS AND 
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TVIS.” 
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SEC. 2. Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the “Universal Access to 
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Quality Tertiary Education Act”, is hereby amended. All laws, presidential 
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decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and issuances or parts thereof 
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which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed, amended or 
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modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the 
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Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.      
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Approved,