TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
2b
-3
:12
SENATE
s. No. 130
Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 3 AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION 
ACT, TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF 
THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM
EXPLANATORY NOTE
When Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary 
Education Act, was passed in 2017, it marked a bold and historic step toward making 
quality higher education accessible to every Filipino. It opened the doors of education 
institutions to students who had long been held back by financial constraints. For 
many, this law represented an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty through 
education.
However, as the law has been implemented across the country, gaps in 
coverage, prioritization, and delivery have become increasingly evident. Despite the 
establishment of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to assist underprivileged 
students with education-related expenses, many of the most vulnerable, especially 
youth from 4Ps households, continue to fall through the cracks due to unclear criteria, 
bottlenecks in disbursement, and a lack of guaranteed access.
This proposed measure thus seeks to amend RA 10931 to ensure that the law 
fulfills its original intent more effectively and equitably. It guarantees that all eligible 
4Ps beneficiaries who complete Senior High School and are accepted into CHED- 
recognized Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will receive TES. In addition, the bill 
introduces clearer mechanisms for prioritizing TES recipients, giving due preference 
to the most economically disadvantaged.
Finally, the amendments strengthen accountability and transparency by 
mandating a monitoring and evaluation system for TES implementation, encouraging 
better coordination among government agencies, and ensuring timely disbursement 
of subsidies.
Education should never be a privilege reserved for the few. It must be a right 
guaranteed for all. This legislation affirms and renews that promise, with a sharper 
focus on equity, clarity, and compassion for Filipino youth. It ensures that public


investment in higher education becomes a bridge to opportunity, social mobility, and 
national development.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
25
-3 D6 :12
SENATE
S. No. 130
Introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" A. Aquino IV
AN ACT
AMENDING SECTIONS 3 AND 7 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION 
ACT", TO ENHANCE THE EFFICIENCY, EQUITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF 
THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY PROGRAM
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
Section 1. Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality
2 
Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
3 
"SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:
4 
XXX
5 
(h) Other school fees refer to fees charged by HEIs and technical-vocational
6 
institutions which cover other necessary costs supportive of instruction,
7 
specifically the following: library fees, computer fees, laboratory fees, school ID
8 
fees, athletic fees, admission fees, development fees, guidance fees, handbook
9 
fees, entrance fees, registration fees, medical and dental fees, cultural fees,
10 
INTERNSHIP AND RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE (RLE) FEES
11 
REQUIRED BY THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING THOSE FOR NURSING
12 
AND OTHER ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS, and other similar or related fees;
13 
Sec. 2. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary
14 
Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
1


1 
"SECTION 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary education or
2 
any part or portion thereof, a Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is hereby established
3 
for all Filipino students who shall enroll in undergraduate post-secondary programs of
4 
SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs and all TVIs. The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST
5 
Board and the amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the budgets of
6 
the CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That [prioritization shall be given to students in
7 
the following order: (a) students who are part of households included in the
8 
Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita household income, and
9 
(b) students not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per capita
10 
household income based on submitted documentation of proof of income to be
11 
determined by the UniFAST Board] ALL POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
12 
STUDENTS FROM QUALIFIED HOUSEHOLD-BENEFICIARIES OF THE THE
13 
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS), AS PROVIDED UNDER
14 
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11310, SHALL BE GUARANTEED TES GRANTEES, UPON
15 
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND ACCEPTANCE
16 
INTO A CHED-RECOGNIZED HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTION OR A
17 
TESDA-RECOGNIZED TVI: Provided, further. That [such prioritization shall not
18 
apply to Filipino students in cities and municipality with no existing SUC op LUC
19 
campus] SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABLE FUNDS, THE REMAINING TES SLOTS
20 
SHALL BE AWARDED BASED ON FINANCIAL NEED, AS DETERMINED BY THE
21 
HOUSEHOLD PER CAPITA INCOME OF APPLICANTS, TO BE ASSESSED BY
22 
THE RESPECTIVE HIGHER EDUCATION INSHTUTIONS OR TVIS, IN
23 
ACCORDANCE WITH GUIDELINES TO BE ISSUED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD:
24 
PROVIDED, FINALLY, THAT TES GRANTEES SHALL BE GUARANTEED
25 
CONTINUED SUPPORT UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THEIR
26 
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE OR TVET PROGRAM, SUBJECT TO THE
27 
MAINTENANCE OF SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC OR TRAINING
28 
PERFORMANCE, AND COMPLIANCE WITH INSTITUTIONAL POLICIES.
29 
The TES may, among others, and to support the cost of tertiary education or any part
30 
or portion thereof, cover the following:


1 
(a) FULL [T]tuition and other school fees (TOSF) in private HEIs, and private or LGU-
2 
operated TVIs, which shall be equivalent to the tuition and other school fees of the
3 
nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective areas: PROVIDED, THAT SUCH
4 
TOSF SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE AMOUNT SPENT BY GOVERNMENT
5 
PER STUDENT UNDER THE FREE HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SUCS
6 
AND LUCS; PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN CASES WHERE THE TOSF
7 
EXCEED THIS AVERAGE AMOUNT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL
8 
ADMINISTER GUIDELINES IN SETTING THE AMOUNT OF THE TES;
9 
(b) An allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous personal
10 
expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of
11 
a personal computer or laptop, and other education-related expenses;
12 
(c) An allowance for room and board cost incurred by the student;
13 
(d) For a student with a disability, an allowance for expenses related to the student's
14 
disability, including special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment,
15 
and supplies that are reasonably incurred; [and]
16 
(e) INTERNSHIP AND RELATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE (RLE) FEES THAT
17 
ARE REQUIRED BY THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING THOSE FOR NURSING
18 
AND OTHER ALLIED HEALTH PROGRAMS; AND
19 
(F) For a student in a program requiring professional license or certification, the one
20 
(l)-time cost of obtaining the first professional credentials or qualifications, which may
21 
include the following: application fees, notarial fees, review classes fees, insurance
22 
premium fees and documentation fees: Provided, That the amount of subsidy shall be
23 
based on the guidelines set forth by the UniFAST Board and on the annual budgetary
24 
appropriation for this purpose."
25 
Sec. 2. A new Section 7-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:
26 
"SECTION 7-A. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND QUALITY
27 
ASSURANCE OF THE TES. - THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL:
28 
(A) IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND VALIDATION TO
29 
ENSURE THAT TES ALLOWANCES ARE UTILIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH


1 
THE PURPOSES PROVIDED UNDER SECTION 7, AND IMPOSE SANCTIONS,
2 
INCLUDING DISQUALIFICATION NON-COMPLIANCE;
3 
(B) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DBM AND COMMISSION ON AUDIT
4 
(COA), DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT DISBURSEMENT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE
5 
DISBURSEMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT COST, TO ENSURE TES
6 
BENEFICIARIES RECEIVE THEIR SUBSIDIES DURING THE SEMESTER FOR
7 
WHICH THEY ARE APPLYING THE TES AS WELL AS TO FUND THE
8 
PROVISION OF LEARNER SUPPORT SERVICES, AND MAY UTILIZE THE
9 
PHILIPPINE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (PHILSYS) TO FACILITATE THE
10 
VALIDATION OF ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES;
11 
(C) COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT
12 
OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT
13 
AGENCIES, TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM THAT INFORMS SENIOR HIGH
14 
SCHOOL STUDENTS UNDER THE 4PS OF THEIR AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY
15 
TO RECEIVE TES; AND,
16 
(D) MONITOR AND EVALUATE THE TES PROGRAM EVERY FIVE (5) YEARS,
17 
INCLUDING THE UTILIZATION OF AN ONLINE INFORMATION SYSTEM TO
18 
MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF TES GRANTEES WHILE THEY ARE IN THE HEI,
19 
AND TRACER SURVEYS CONDUCTED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEIS TO
20 
ASSESS AND ENHANCE THE PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION,
21 
AND UTILIZE THE PHILSYS NUMBERS OF TES GRANTEES FOR
22 
MONITORING AND EVALUATION PURPOSES.
23 
FURTHER, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEIS SHALL UTILIZE THE PHILSYS
24 
NUMBERS OF TES GRANTEES FOR MONITORING AND EVALUATION
25 
PURPOSES AND LIKEWISE PROVIDE LEARNER SUPPORT SERVICES TO TES
26 
BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CAREER COUNSELING,
27 
BRIDGING PROGRAMS, AND TUTORIALS.
28 
THE CHED, IN COORDINATION WITH THE UNIFAST BOARD, SHALL
29 
ESTABLISH A REGULAR QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESS FOR HEIS
30 
ENROLLING TES GRANTEES. THIS SHALL INCLUDE PERIODIC


1 
ASSESSMENTS OF BOTH INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND PROGRAM
2 
QUALITY, WITH A FOCUS ON ACADEMIC STANDARDS, GRADUATE
3 
EMPLOYABILITY, AND OTHER RELEVANT OUTCOMES, AND COMPLIANCE
4 
WITH CHED POLICIES. HEIS FAILING TO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALITY
5 
STANDARDS SHALL BE REEVALUATED AND MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM
6 
ENROLLING NEW TES GRANTEES UNTIL COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED.
7 
Sec. 4. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the
8 
effectivity of this Act, the Uni FAST Board, in consultation with the CHED, DepEd,
9 
DSWD, TESDA, and other stakeholders in higher and technical education, shall
10 
promulgate the revised implementing rules and regulations of R.A. 10931 necessary
11 
to ensure the efficient and effective implementation of this Act: Provided, That the
12 
failure of the Board to promulgate the said rules and regulations shall not prevent or
13 
delay the effectivity and implementation of this Act.
14 
Sec. 5. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
15 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall
16 
remain in force and effect.
17 
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order,
18 
letter of instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is
19 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
20 
Sec. 7. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days after its
21 
publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,