TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
)
JUL -7 A 9 '-56
SENATE
S. No. 169
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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"
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Undeniably, education is essential to inclusive growth. Children who are not in 
school are likely to be disadvantaged, and the conditions faced by these children can 
reinforce, if not exacerbate, existing socio-economic inequalities. Most out-of-school 
youth come from the lower income families, raising the oft-quoted concern that 
poverty is the root cause of failure to finish school. This comes as a great irony when 
considered alongside the fact that education serves as a great equalizer, affording 
those from lower income levels the opportunity to lift their families out of poverty.
It is for this reason that former President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act 
No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. This landmark 
legislation institutionalized free tertiary education in State Universities and Colleges, 
and Local Universities and Colleges. In 2022, the Commission on Higher Education 
reported that more than two miilion Filipino students have benefitted from the law 
since it was signed in 2017. While the law has been meaningful in changing the lives 
of millions of students, geographical considerations and limitations in the range of


courses offered in public higher education institutions hinder students from pursing 
their desired degree.
In consideration of the State's mandate to "assign the highest budgetary 
priority to education", the bill aims to expand the coverage of the Tertiary Education 
Subsidy. This bill also seeks to establish a voucher program as an option for qualified 
students who opt to study in private higher education institutions. Through this 
measure, qualified students will be able to enroll in courses and programs that they 
desire and not be limited to courses offered in public higher education institutions.
In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly sought.
SENATOR CHRISTOPHERi^WRENCE "BONG" T. GO


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
SENATE
S. No. 169
25
-7 A 9 56
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE "BONG" T. GO
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 the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
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Section 1. Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to
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Quality Tertiary Education Act" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Sec. 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary
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education or any part or portion thereof, a TES is hereby established IN
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ALL sues, LUCS, PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS for all Filipino students
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who [shall] enroll in THE undergraduate, post-secondary TERTIARY
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EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL TRAINING
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program[s] [ef-SUCs, LUCs, private HEIs and oil TVIs] OF THEIR
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CHOICE. The TES shall be administered by the UniFAST Board and the
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amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the
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RESPECTIVE budgets of the CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That
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prioritization shall be given to QUALIFIED students in the following
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order: (a) students ENROLLED IN SUCS, LUCS and PUBLIC TVIs
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who are part of households included in the UPDATED OR MOST
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RECENT Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita
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household income; [and] (b) students ENROLLED IN SUCS, LUCS


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and PUBLIC TVIs WHO ARE not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked 
according to estimated per capita househoid income based on submitted 
documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST 
Board[: Provided, further, Thot such prioritization shall not apply to
Filipino students in citios and municipalities with no oxisting SUC or LUC
compus]; (C) STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE HEIS 
AND TVIS IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE 
NO ESTABLISHED SUC, LUC, OR PUBLIC TVI; AND (D) 
STUDENTS WHO ARE ENROLLED IN PRIVATE HEIS AND TVIS 
IN CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE 
ESTABLISHED SUCS, LUCS, OR PUBLIC TVIS BUT DOES NOT 
OFFER COMPARABLE OR EQUIVALENT DEGREE PROGRAMS, 
SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR TES: PROVIDED, THAT THE CHED, IN 
CONSULTATION WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES 
CONCERNED AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 
THIS ACT, SHALL DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF SUBSIDIES TO 
BE GRANTED, AND THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR TES 
BENEFICIARIES.
"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 port 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) [Aft] A[a]llowance for books, SCHOOL supplies, 
transportation TO AND FROM SCHOOL, and 
[miscellaneous personal exponsoo, including a] reasonable 
allowance for the documented rental or purchase of [a 
personal computer or laptop] DESKTOP OR PORTABLE


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COMPUTERS and other education-related expenses, IF
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APPLICABLE;
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"(c) An allowance for room and board costs incurred by the
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Student IF APPLICABLE;
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"(d) XXX.
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"(e) XXX.
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"ALL TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE
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SUCH BENEFITS OR SUBSIDY UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF
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THEIR RESPECTIVE UNDERGRADUATE, POST-SECONDARY
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TERTIARY EDUCATION OR TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL
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PROGRAMS: PROVIDED, THAT THE TES BENEFICIARIES SHALL
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COMPLY WITH THE RETENTION AND RESIDENCY
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REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND
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REGULATIONS OF THE HEIS AND TVIS."
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Sec. 2. A new Section denominated as Section 7A is hereby inserted after
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Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931 to read as follows:
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"SEC. 7A. VOUCHER SYSTEM FOR POOR AND ACADEMICALLY
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QUALIFIED STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIs AND TVIs. - THERE SHALL BE A
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PROPORTIONAL BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO SUPPORT POOR AND
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ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS THROUGH A VOUCHER SYSTEM TO
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BE ADMINISTERED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD THAT SHALL ALLOW
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BENEFICIARIES TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs IN CITIES
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AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCs, LUCs, AND
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PUBLIC TVIs.
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THE ELIGIBILITY OF STUDENTS UNDER THE VOUCHER SYSTEM
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SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE UNIFAST BOARD, BASED ON REASONABLE
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ECONOMIC AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS, NOT LATER THAN THE
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START OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR AS DETERMINED BY THE CHED, AND, IN
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THE CASE OF TECHNICAL-VOCATIONAL STUDENTS, NOT LATER THAN THE
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PERIOD DESIGNATED BY THE TESDA, AND PRIOR TO THE START OF THE
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SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAM OR COURSE.


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STUDENTS OF PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs WHO ARE TES
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GRANTEES CAN NO LONGER QUALIFY FOR THE VOUCHER SYSTEM. ALL
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VOUCHERS ISSUED UNDER THIS ACT SHALL BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR
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THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING POOR AND ACADEMICALLY QUALIFIED
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STUDENTS WHO OPT TO STUDY IN PRIVATE HEIs AND PRIVATE TVIs IN
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CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WHERE THERE ARE EXISTING SUCs, LUCs
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AND PUBLIC TVIs."
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FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM THE
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EFFECTIVITY OF THIS ACT, THE UNIFAST BOARD SHALL COMMISSION A
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STUDY TO DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE COST OF TUITION AND
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MISCELLANEOUS FEES FOR PRIVATE HEIs AND TVIs IN THE COUNTRY,
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WHICH SHALL BE THE NOMINAL VALUE OF THE VOUCHER UNDER THE
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SYSTEM. THE AMOUNT OF TUITION AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES SHALL BE
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REVIEWED EVERY THREE (3) YEARS TO ALLOW FOR ADJUSTMENTS DUE TO
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INFLATION."
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Sec. 3. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof is held invalid or
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision or part not otherwise
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affected shail remain valid and subsisting.
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Sec. 4. Repealing Clause. — Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulation contrary to or
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inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 5. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect immediately after its publication
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in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of generai circulation.
Approved,