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

DATE August , 2028 2
= TIME 5:10pm -
A BY _Tweety

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNO. 2990

Introduced by Representative ANTOLIN “LENLEN” A, ORETA IIT

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Republic Act No. 10931, otherwise known as the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,”
was enacted into law on August 3, 2017 to enable those who have less in life, especially the poorest of
the poor, to have access to quality tertiary (higher and technical-vocational) education. This landmark
legislation also aims to provide adequate funding and mechanisms to expand and further democratize
access to quality college education by providing free tertiary education in state universities and colleges
(SUCS), local universities and colleges (LUCs) compliant with the policies. standards. and guidelines of
the Commission on Higher Education, aswell as in state-run technical-vocational institutions. It also
provides a Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to economically disadvantaged students from SUCs, LUCs,
state-run TVIs, and private HEIs and TVIs to support the other education-related costs of education, such
as books, transportation, and board and lodging, among others.

While the TES prioritizes students from households listed in the Listahanan 2.0 of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), there were complaints that many students under the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are not included in the Listahanan 2.0 database and, therefore, were
not able to avail themselves of the TES to continue their studies.

A recent study by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies revealed that free education does not
truly benefit the poorest of the poor, and many 4Ps beneficiaries were excluded from the TES. Likewise,
the Sccond Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM Il) findings showed that the share of the
TES grantees from the poorest households or 4Ps has dramatically decreased—from 75% in Academic
Year (A.Y.) 2018-2019 to just 23% in A.Y. 2022-2023, with a slight increase to 35% in 2024 afier the
DSWD pledged to update its database,

Thus, EDCOM I has been pushing for a special provision in RA No. 10931 to guarantee prioritization of
the poorest of the poor or the 4Ps beneficiaries to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our society
are given the much-needed support to improve their socio-economic status. Hence, this proposed measure
secks to ensure that the poorest students are not left behind and shall be given the opportunity to cam a
college degree to help free their families from the shackles of poverty.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

ANTOLIN baad A. ORETA IIL

Lone District, Malabon City


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

TWENTETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 2990

Introduced by Representative ANTOLIN “LENLEN” A. ORETA III

AN ACT
PRIORITIZING THE GRANT OF TERTIARY EDUCATION SUBSIDY TO SENIOR HIGH
SCHOOL GRADUATES FROM HOUSEHOLDS UNDER THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG
PILIPINO PROGRAM WHO QUALIFY FOR ADMISSION IN HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION,
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, otherwise known as the "Universal Access
to Quality Tertiary Education Act”, is hereby amended to read as follows

"SEC 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary education
or any part or portion thereof, a TES is hereby established for all students who shall
enroll in undergraduate post-secondary programs of SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs and
all TVIs, The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount
necessary to fund the TES shall be included in. the 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 Listahanan 2.0, ranked
according to the estimated per capita household income, and (b) students not part of
the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per capita household income based
on submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST
Board] SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES FROM HOUSEHOLDS
UNDER THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM (4PS)
SHALL BE GUARANTEED THE TES UPON QUALIFYING FOR
ADMISSION IN A CHED-RECOGNIZED HIGHER EDUCATION
INSTITUTION: Provided, further, That [such] SUBJECT TO AVAILABLE
FUNDS, THE REMAINING TES SLOTS SHALL BE AWARDED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH [prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities
and municipalities with no existing SUC op LUC campus] THE RANKING OF
APPLICANTS BASED ON THEIR PER CAPITA INCOME HOUSEHOLD
USING THE MOST UPDATED LISTAHANAN DATABASE OF THE DSWD
OR SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS AS PROOF OF INCOME.”

The TES may, among others, and to support the cost of tertiary education or
any part or portion thereof, cover the following:


(a) FULL [T]tuition and other school fees (TOSF) 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 TV1 in their respective areas: PROVIDED, THAT.
SUCH TOSF SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AVERAGE AMOUNT SPENT
BY THE GOVERNMENT PER STUDENT UNDER THE FREE HIGHER
EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SUCS AND LUCS; PROVIDED,
FURTHER, THAT IN CASES WHERE THE TOSF EXCEED THIS
AVERAGE AMOUNT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL ADMINISTER
GUIDELINES IN SETTING THE AMOUNT OF THE TES;

(b) An allowance for books, supplies, transportation, and miscellancous personal
expenses, including a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or
purchase of a personal computer or laptop, and other education-related expenses;

(c) An allowance for room and board cost incurred by the student;

(@) Fora student with a disability, an allowance for expenses related to the student's
disability, including special services, personal assistance, transportation,
equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred; and

(c) For a student in a program requiring professional license or certification, the one
(D-time cost of obtaining the first professional credentials or qualifications, which
‘may include the following: application fees, notarial fees, review classes fees,
insurance premium fees and documentation fees: Provided, That the amount of
subsidy shall be based on the guidelines set forth by the UniFAST Board and on
the annual budgetary appropriation for this purpose.”

SEC. 2. A new Section 7-A is hereby inserted to read as follows:

"SEC. 7-A. IMPLEMENTATION, MONITORING, AND QUALITY
ASSURANCE OF THE TES. - THE UNIFAST SHALL:

(a) IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AND VALIDATION TO
ENSURE THAT TES ALLOWANCES ARE UTILIZED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE PURPOSES PROVIDED UNDER SECTION
AND IMPOSE SANCTIONS, INCLUDING DISQUALIFICATION FOR
NON-COMPLIANCE;

(b) IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DBM AND COMMISSION ON AUDIT
(COA), DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT DISBURSEMENT SYSTEM,
INCLUDING THE DISBURSEMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
COST, TO ENSURE TES GRANTEES RECEIVE THEIR SUBSIDIES
DURING THE SEMESTER FOR WHICH THEY ARE APPLYING THE
TES, AS WELL AS TO FUND THE PROVISION OF LEARNER
SUPPORT SERVICES, AND MAY UTILIZE THE PHILIPPINE
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM (PHILSYS) TO FACILITATE THE
VALIDATION OF ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES;

(c) COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DSWD,
AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM
THAT INFORMS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS UNDER THE
4PS OF THEIR AUTOMATIC ELIGIBILITY TO RECEIVE THE BY
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEIS TO ASSESS AND ENHANCE THE


PROGRAM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION, AND UTILIZE THE
PHILSYS NUMBERS OF TES GRANTEES FOR MONITORING AND.
EVALUATION PURPOSES.

FOR THIS PURPOSE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEIS SHALL UTILIZE
THE PHILSYS NUMBERS OF THE TES GRANTEES FOR MONITORING
AND EVALUATION PURPOSES. THEY SHALL ALSO PROVIDE LEARNER
SUPPORT SERVICES TO TES BENEFICIARIES, INCLUDING CAREER
COUNSELING, BRIDGING PROGRAMS, AND TUTORIALS.

THE CHED, IN COORDINATION WITH THE UNIFAST, SHALL
ESTABLISH A REGULAR QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCESS FOR HEIs
ENROLLING TES GRANTEES. THIS SHALL INCLUDE PERIODIC
ASSESSMENTS OF BOTH INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND
PROGRAM QUALITY, WITH A FOCUS ON ACADEMIC STANDARDS,
GRADUATE OUTCOMES, AND COMPLIANCE WITH CHED POLICIES.
HEIS FAILING TO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALITY STANDARDS SHALL
BE REEVALUATED AND MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM ENROLLING
NEW TES GRANTEES UNTIL COMPLIANCE IS ACHIEVED.”

XXX

SEC. 3. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — Within sixty (60) days from the effectivity of
this Act, the UniFAST Board, in consultation with the CHED, DepEd, DSWD, TESDA, and other
stakeholders in higher and technical-vocational education, shall promulgate the revised implementing
rules and regulations of R.A. No. 10931 necessary. to ensure the efficient and effective implementation
of this Act: Provided, That the failure of the Board to promulgate the said rules and regulations shall not
Prevent or delay the effectivity and implementation of this Act.

SEC. 4. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional. the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall remain in force and
effect

SEC. 5. Repealing Clause. ~RANo. 10931 and all laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations
and administrative regulations, or any parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
shall be revoked, repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 6. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its complete publication in the Official
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation,

Approved,