Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 3467

Introduced by Hon. Bryan B. Revilla and
Hon. Ramon "Jolo" Revilla III

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act” is a
landmark measure passed into Law by the Duterte Administration. This measure was gladly
received and rejoiced by most Filipinos who have been calling for a universal access to quality
tertiary education.

The RA 1093 Linstitutionalized a voucher system to subsidize all State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and Technical Vocational Schools
(TVS) students. Since its passage into law in 2017, around 1.6 million college students are no
longer paying for their tuition and miscellaneous fees. Of this number, 1.3 million are beneficiaries
from 112 SUCs while at least 300,000 are from local SUCs.'

In 2019 to 2020, a total of 3,408,425 universities and college students were enrolled both
in public and private tertiary institutions. This means that a considerable number of students are
excluded from the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) despite being qualified and deserving to
avail of the program. While we applaud the achievement of the government in ensuring universal
quality tertiary education, we are also concemed for those students who are qualified and
deserving of government assistance who are enrolled at private Higher Education Institutions
(HEIs). At present, there are only 112 SUCs and 121 LUCs all over the country, thereby limiting
access to free college education.

' Rocamora, Joyce Ann. 1.6M Pinoy students benefit from free higher educ program, retrieved from:
https://www.pna gov phvarticles/1140715


This bill seeks to expand the TES to include private HEIs. This bill will allow poor and
academically competent student who opt to study in private HEIs and TVIs to avail TES. This
will further ensure that quality tertiary education is available for all whether they are enrolled in
public or private HEIs.

In view of the foregoing reasons, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

‘ANB. REVILLA HON. RAMONIOLO” REVILLA III
Representative Repfesentative
AGIMAT Partylist 1" District of Cavite

HOR.


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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Nineteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. __3467__

Introduced by Hon. Bryan B. Revilla and
Hon. Ramon "Jolo" Revilla IIT

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 Quality

Tertiary Education Act” 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, ranked according to the estimated per capita household income; and
(b) students not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according on estimated per capita
household income based on submitted documentation of 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 TV.

THERE SHALL BE A PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION IN.
THE FORM OF A VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR AND ACADEMICALLY
COMPETENT STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND
PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE
EXISTING SUCs, LUCs AND PUBLIC TVIs. STUDENTS FROM LISTAHANAN
HOUSEHOLDS SHALL BE PRIORITIZED AS BENEFICIARIES OF THE TES IN
AREAS WHERE THERE ARE NO EXISTING SUCs, LUCs AND PUBLIC TVIs.

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ALL VOUCHERS ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING POOR AND ACADEMICALLY COMPETENT
STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES
AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCs, LUCs AND PUBLIC
TVIs.

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] Allowance 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 incurred by the student WHEN
APPLICABLE;

(d)xxx
(€) xxx,

ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE SUCH
BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THEY COMPLETE THEIR POST-SECONDARY
TECHNICALVOCATIONAL COURSE OR HIGHER EDUCATION DEGREE
PROGRAM: PROVIDED, THAT THEY DO NOT FAIL IN ANY SUBJECT
ENROLLED IN AND COMPLY WITH RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE HEIS AND TVIS.

SEC. 2. 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 parts thereof which are inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act are repealed, amended or modified accordingly,

SEC. 3. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official
Gazette or in two (2) newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,

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