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[av_heading heading=’ Free tuition law comes with ‘better’ scholarships, loans ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY PRINCE GOLEZ
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MANILA – If you think it’s all about free tuition, think again.
The Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act also offers “new and improved” scholarship and loan programs for all students in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges, and TESDA-accredited centers, Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV said.
Students may “apply for financing for other education expenses outside of their miscellaneous and mandatory fees that will be shouldered by the government under the law,” said Aquino, principal sponsor and coauthor of Republic Act (RA) 10931 in the Senate.
RA 10931 mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to strengthen its Student Financial Assistant System for public and private universities and colleges.
FUNDING
Aquino, former chairman of the Senate education committee, assured that the new law, which President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Aug. 2, would be properly funded and effectively implemented.
The senator suggested using “nonperforming budgets” to fund the law.
“With a more efficient use of our budget, there is more than enough fiscal space for this landmark reform,” he said, adding that the measure is “a worthy investment in our youth, and not just an expense.”
While funding the free college tuition law is a “challenge,” there is no reason not to provide funds for it, Sen. Loren Legarda said.
A total of P8.3 billion was appropriated to CHED’s budget last year to subsidize tuition in SUCs this year.
“While the administration’s economic managers had reservations with the measure, now that it is a law, we need to fund it,” said Legarda, Senate finance committee chairwoman.
“The Department of Budget and Management’s role is crucial in crafting the law’s implementing rules and regulations to ensure that it is funded every year,” she said./PN
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