TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S.B. No. 1245
2'
arc
of til?
25 AUG 20 P5 39
RECEIVED BY:
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
ENHANCING THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION 
ACT, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Eight years have passed since the enactment of the Universal Access to Quality 
Tertiary Education (UAQTE) law, which aimed to make higher education more 
accessible by implementing Free Higher Education (FHE) in State and Local 
Universities and Colleges, while also creating the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to 
help cover tuition and living expenses. Although the law is well-intentioned and has 
been beneficial to many Filipinos, the law must be further strengthened to guarantee 
that higher education truly becomes accessible for all.
Recent findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education 
(EDCOM 2) surfaced that not all TES beneficiaries come from impoverished 
households1. The share of TES grantees from the poorest households decreased from 
74.24% in Audit Year (AY) 2018-2019 to 30.74% in AY 2022-20232. In light of this, 
the EDCOM 2 recommended that the selection of TES beneficiaries should be 
based on economic need3. Therefore, this measure ensures that the most 
impoverished students are prioritized in benefitting from the TES program.
The EDCOM 2 also found that the reduction of the TES grant from P30,000 to 
P10,000 per semester reduces the choices of undergraduate programs that students 
can enrol in and places additional financial burden on students and their families4. 
This bill guarantees that students will receive at least P30,000 per semester to provide 
sufficient support for their pursuit of higher education. Moreover, in light of rising 
costs, this bill includes an allowance for meals and transportation to and from school.
Furthermore, the UAQTE law has faced persistent implementation chalienges. 
Over the past few years, hundreds of students have sent their complaints to the Office
1 https;//edcom2.gov.ph/media/2025/01/EDCOM-2-Year-2-Report-Fixing-the-Foundations-2025.pdf
2 Ibid
3 Ibid
4 Ibid
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TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
SENATE
S.B. No. 1245
o( tl)? nn.iij
25 AUG 20 P5 39 
Pv
RECEIVED BV;
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS
AN ACT
ENHANCING THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION 
ACT, AMENDING FOR THIS PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10931
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives in the Phiiippines 
assembled:
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Section 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access
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to Quality Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"SECTION 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of
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tertiary education or any part or portion thereof, a TES is hereby established for
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all Filipino students who shall enroll in undergraduate post-secondary programs of
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sues, LUCs, private HEIs and all TVIs. The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST
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Board and the amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the budgets of
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the CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That prioritization shall be given to students in
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the following order: (a) students who are part of households included in the
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UPDATED OR MOST RECENT Listahanan, ranked according to the estimated per
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capita household income; and (b) students not part of the Listahanan, ranked
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according to estimated 
per capita household income based on submitted
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documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board.[: Provided,
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further. That such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students In.cities-and
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municipalities with no existing SUC or LUC campus. ]
"THE TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY SHALL BE NO LESS THAN 
THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30/000.00) PER SEMESTER. THE AMOUNT 
SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD. THE UNIFAST BOARD 
SHALL PERIODICALLY REVIEW THE SUBSIDY AMOUNT EVERY TWO (2) 
YEARS AND ADJUST IT IN ACCORDANCE WITH INFLATION RATES AND 
OTHER RELEVANT ECONOMIC INDICATORS.
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 therof,] cover the following:
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(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 SUG or state-run TVI in their respective areas;
(b) [Aft] A[a]llowance for MEALS, 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 and other 
education-related expenses;
(c) An allowance for room and board costs incurred by the student;
(d) XXX.
(e) XXX.
ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL NOT RECEIVE LESS THAN THE 
INITIAL AMOUNT OF SUBSIDY OR BENEFIT GRANTED TO THEM UNTIL THE 
COMPLETION OF THEIR RESPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE, POST­
SECONDARY TERTIARY EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL 
PROGRAMS: PROVIDED, THAT THE TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL COMPLY 
WITH THE RETENTION AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE 
WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE HEIS AND TVIS."
Sec. 2. A new section 9 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below 
it renumbered accordingly:
"SECTION 9. STRENGTHENING THE VALIDATION AND VERIFICATION 
CAPACITY OF CHED REGIONAL OFFICES TO IMPLEMENT THE UAQTE AND 
STUFAPS PROGRAMS. — EACH CHEDRO SHALL ESTABLISH A VALIDATION 
AND VERIFICATION UNIT WITH SUFFICIENT PERSONNEL TO REVIEW, 
VALIDATE, AND VERIFY THE DOCUMENTARY SUBMISSIONS FROM HIGHER 
EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND/OR STUDENTS TO ENSURE ITS 
ADHERENCE TO EXISTING LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS OF THE 
RELEVANT STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS (STUFAPS) AND 
THE UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY TERTIARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS 
ADMINISTERED BY THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION."
Sec. 3. A new section 10 shall be inserted as follows, with the provisions below 
it renumbered accordingly:
"SECTION 10. UAQTE GRIEVANCE MECHANISM. — A GRIEVANCE 
COMMITTEE SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WITHIN BOTH THE COMMISSION ON 
HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND SKILLS 
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.


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THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN THE COMMISSION ON 
HIGHER EDUCATION SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING AND 
RESOLVING DISPUTES OR COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS AND HIGHER 
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF 
THIS LAW. THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE 
REPRESENTATION FROM UNIFAST.
THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED IN THE TECHNICAL 
EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SHALL BE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING AND RESOLVING DISPUTES OR 
COMPLAINTS BY STUDENTS AND TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS 
IN RELATION TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS LAW. THE GRIEVANCE 
COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE REPRESENTATION FROM UNIFAST.
THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE TECHNICAL 
EDUCATION AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SHALL ENSURE THAT 
INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES AND ITS PROCESSES 
ARE ACCESSIBLE."
Sec. 4. Section 15 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Enhanced Universal Access 
to Quality Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 15. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act, specifically Section 4, 5, 7 
8, AND 9 shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) and shall be appropriated under SUCs, 
CHED and TESDA in accordance with the provisions of this Act: Provided, That an 
amount equivalent to not more than three percent (3%) of the TES and student loan 
program for tertiary education provided under this Act may be used as administrative 
cost under the UniFAST. PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT IN ADDITION TO THE 
ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS, SUCH SUMS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO PAY 
FOR ANY UNPAID OBLIGATIONS OR PRIOR YEAR DEFICIENCIES 
INCURRED SHALL ALSO BE APPROPRIATED IN THE GENERAL 
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, TO ENSURE THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION AND 
SUSTAINABILITY OF THE BENEFITS GUARANTEED UNDER THIS ACT."
Sec. 5. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or 
unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full 
force and effect.
Sec. 6. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, executive orders or rules and 
regulations contrary to or inconsistent 22 with the provisions of this Act are hereby 
repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in the Official Gazette or 25 in any newspaper of the general circulation. 
Approved.