Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4270 
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
VOUCHER 
SYSTEM 
FOR 
POOR 
AND 
ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HIGHER 
EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS 
AND 
PRIVATE 
TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE 
“UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION ACT” 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Section 1, Article XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution recognizes 
education as a fundamental right and mandates the State to protect and promote 
the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate 
steps to make such education accessible to all. Section 2(3) under the same Article 
mandates the establishment and maintenance of a system of scholarship grants, 
student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to 
deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the 
underprivileged. In furtherance of these constitutional mandates, this bill seeks to 
provide additional financial assistance for students, particularly those enrolled or 
who wish to enroll in private higher educational institutions (HEIs) and private 
technical-vocational institutions (TVIs). 
In 2017, Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the “Universal 
Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” was enacted to provide free tuition 
and other school fees in state universities and colleges (SUC) and local 
universities and colleges (LUC), state-run technical-vocation institutions. It also 
September 1, 2025
3:49 pm


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established a tertiary education subsidy (TES) to cover the costs of learning 
materials, transportation, board and lodging, and other education-related 
expenses for those enrolled in both public and private HEIs and TVIs. But despite 
its noble intent, the law has inadvertently marginalized poor students enrolled in 
private HEIs and TVIs. 
As of June 2025, there are 2,334 HEIs in the country – 1,714 (71%) of 
which are owned privately.1 Data from the Commission on Higher Education 
(CHED) consistently show that over 50% of enrolled tertiary-level students in the 
Philippines study in private HEIs. Latest data available show that private school 
enrollment is around 2.47 million in 2022-2023, from 2.07 million.2 However, 
many of these students are from low-income families, and they struggle to afford 
rising tuition and other educational costs. These families opted to enroll in private 
HEIs due to: (1) limited slots and competitive admissions in public schools which 
exclude many financially disadvantaged students who lack access to quality basic 
education and college entrance test preparation; (2) geographic limitations that 
force students in remote municipalities to enroll in nearby private HEIs, as public 
HEIs are located far from their communities; and, (3) mismatch in program 
offerings since many public HEIs do not offer specialized or in-demand programs 
available in private institutions. These trends point to a harsh reality: many low-
income students are forced to attend private colleges not by choice, but by 
circumstance. 
Given these realities, there is an urgent need to amend RA 10931. Thus, 
this bill seeks to address this critical gap by expanding the coverage of TES and 
establishing a dedicated voucher system for poor and academically qualified 
students enrolled in private HEIs and TVIs.  
In this bill, the TES will include Filipino students enrolled in private HEIs 
in cities or municipalities where an SUC or LUC exists but does not offer 
comparable or equivalent degree programs, and the TES beneficiaries will 
continue to receive such subsidy until they complete their degree or course. 
Meanwhile, the proposed voucher system will subsidize the tuition and 
miscellaneous fees of poor and academically qualified students to allow them to 
study or transfer to private HEIs or TVIs. 
A targeted voucher system would ensure that financial assistance follows 
the student, especially those who have no viable access to public institutions due 
to location, capacity, or program availability. Such a system would promote 
1 https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/HEIs-Distribution-AY-2024-25-as-of-26June2025.pdf 
2 https://opinion.inquirer.net/173061/private-schools-cant-do-it-alone-need-govt-help 


3 
equity, efficiency, and student choice, ensuring that the most vulnerable students 
are not excluded from quality tertiary education. 
Principally authored by Baguio Lone District Representative Mark Go, this 
measure was approved by the House on Third Reading during the 19th Congress. 
In view of the foregoing reasons, the immediate passage of this bill is 
sought. 
YEDDA MARIE K. ROMUALDEZ 
ANDREW JULIAN K. ROMUALDEZ 
JUDE A. ACIDRE 


Republic of the Philippines 
House of Representatives 
Quezon City, Metro Manila 
Twentieth Congress 
First Regular Session 
HOUSE BILL NO. 4270
Introduced by Representatives Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, Andrew Julian 
K. Romualdez, and Jude A. Acidre
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING 
A 
VOUCHER 
SYSTEM 
FOR 
POOR 
AND 
ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HIGHER 
EDUCATION 
INSTITUTIONS 
AND 
PRIVATE 
TECHNICAL-
VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, 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 3 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access 
to Quality Tertiary Education Act” is hereby amended to read as follows: 
 “Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act: 
xxx 
I) POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENT REFERS TO A
STUDENT WHO BELONGS TO A HOUSEHOLD RANKED AS 


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“POOR” BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND 
DEVELOPMENT BASED ON PROOF OF INCOME AS PRESENTED 
TO THE UNIFAST BOARD, AND WHO CONSISTENTLY MEETS 
THE 
ACADEMIC 
RETENTION 
REQUIREMENTS 
OF 
THE 
CONCERNED HEI OR TVI FOR A REGULAR UNIT LOAD; 
 
xxx 
 
(L) PROOF OF INCOME REFERS TO ANY DOCUMENTATION 
USED TO VERIFY, AUTHENTICATE, OR ASSESS THE ANNUAL 
INCOME OF A PERSON OR HOUSEHOLD;  
(M) PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION REFERS TO A 
BUDGETARY ALLOCATION WHICH SHALL SUBSIDIZE THE 
FULL COST OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES IN THE 
FORM 
OF 
PORTABLE 
VOUCHERS 
FOR 
POOR 
AND 
ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS; 
 
xxx 
 
(Y) VOUCHER SYSTEM REFERS TO A SYSTEM THAT GRANTS 
PORTABLE VOUCHERS TO POOR AND ACADEMICALLY 
QUALIFIED STUDENTS PRIOR TO THE START OF THE 
ACADEMIC YEAR TO ALLOW THEM TO STUDY OR TRANSFER 
TO PRIVATE HEIs OR PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCs, LUCs, 
AND PUBLIC TVIs.”   
 


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              Section 2. Section 3 (i) and (j) are amended to be denominated as Section 
3 (j) and (k) respectively. Section 3 (k) to (u) are amended to be denominated as 
Section 3 (n) to (x).    
                
              Section 3. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 is hereby amended to 
read as follows: 
 
 “SEC. 7. TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY (TES) for Filipino Students. 
- To support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof, a 
TES is hereby established IN ALL SUCs, LUCs, PRIVATE HEIs AND 
TVIs for all Filipino students who [shall] enroll in THE FIRST 
undergraduate-post-secondary TERTIARY EDUCATION program[s] [of 
SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs and all TVIs] OF THEIR CHOICE. The TES 
shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to 
fund the TES shall be included in the RESPECTIVE budgets of the CHED 
and the TESDA: Provided, That prioritization shall be given to students in 
the following order: (a) students who are part of households included in the 
UPDATED Listahanan [2.0] 3, LAUNCHED ON AUGUST 1, 2022 BY 
THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, 
ranked according to the estimated per capita household income; and (b) 
students not part of the Listahanan [2.0] 3, ranked according to estimated 
per capita household income based on [submitted documentation of] THE 
proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board: Provided[,] 
further, That such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities 
and municipalities with no existing SUC or LUC campus AND PUBLIC 
TVI: PROVIDED FINALLY, THAT FILIPINO STUDENTS ENROLLED 
IN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS IN PRIVATE HEIs IN CITIES 
AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE AN SUC OR LUC EXISTS, BUT 


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DOES NOT OFFER COMPARABLE OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE 
PROGRAMS, SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR TES.  
 
           TO SUPPORT THE COST OF TERTIARY EDUCATION OR 
ANY PART OR PORTION THEREOF, [T]the TES may, among others, 
[and to support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof,] 
cover the following: 
 
 
(a) Tuition and other school fees in private HEIs, and private [or LGU-
operated] TVIs, which shall be equivalent to the tuition and other school 
fees of the nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective areas; 
 
(b) [An] [a]AllowanceS for books, SCHOOL supplies, transportation TO 
AND FROM SCHOOL, and [miscellaneous personal expenses 
including a] reasonable allowance for the documented rental or 
purchase of a [personal computer or laptop] DESKTOP OR 
PORTABLE COMPUTER, WHEN APPLICABLE [and other 
education-related expenses]; 
 
(c) An allowance for room and board costs TO BE incurred by the student, 
WHEN APPLICABLE; 
 
(d) xxx 
 
(e) xxx      
 


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ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE 
SUCH BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THEIR 
POST-SECONDARY TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL COURSE OR 
HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE PROGRAM: PROVIDED, THAT 
THEY 
COMPLY 
WITH 
RESIDENCY 
REQUIREMENTS 
IN 
ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE HEIs AND TVIs.” 
 
Section 4. A new Section denominated as Section 7A is hereby inserted 
after Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 to read as follows: 
 
         SEC. 7A. VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR AND ACADEMICALLY 
QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIs AND TVIs. - THERE 
SHALL BE A PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO 
SUPPORT POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS 
THROUGH 
A 
PORTABLE 
VOUCHER 
SYSTEM 
TO 
BE 
ADMINISTERED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD THAT SHALL ALLOW 
BENEFICIARIES TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs 
IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING 
SUCs, LUCs, AND PUBLIC TVIs.  
 
THE ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS UNDER THE VOUCHER 
SYSTEM SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD, 
BASED 
ON 
REASONABLE 
ECONOMIC 
AND 
ACADEMIC 
QUALIFICATIONS, NOT LATER THAN THE START OF THE 
ACADEMIC YEAR AS DETERMINED BY THE CHED, AND, IN THE 
CASE OF TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL STUDENTS, NOT LATER 
THAN THE PERIOD DESIGNATED BY THE TESDA, AND PRIOR TO 
THE START OF THE SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAM OR COURSE.     


6 
 
 
          STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs WHO ARE 
TES GRANTEES CAN NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE VOUCHER 
SYSTEM. ALL VOUCHERS ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE 
USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING POOR 
AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS WHO OPT TO 
STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES AND 
MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCs, LUCs 
AND PUBLIC TVIs.”  
 
FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM 
THE EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL 
COMMISSION A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE 
COST OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES FOR PRIVATE 
HEIs AND TVIs IN THE COUNTRY, WHICH SHALL BE THE 
NOMINAL VALUE OF THE VOUCHER UNDER THE SYSTEM. THE 
AMOUNT OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES SHALL BE 
REVIEWED EVERY THREE (3) YEARS TO ALLOW FOR 
ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO INFLATION.”  
 
Section 5. Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the 
CHED shall issue the rules and regulations as may be necessary to implement the 
provisions of this Act.  
 
             Section 6. Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the "Universal 
Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act”, is hereby amended. All laws, 
presidential decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, and issuances or 


7 
 
parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are repealed, 
amended or modified accordingly. 
 
            Section 7. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication 
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.  
 
 Approved,