In a significant move to enhance educational access, a bill currently under Senate review seeks to grant automatic eligibility for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to senior high school graduates from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households. This legislative effort, championed by Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, aims to amend Republic Act 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, ensuring that students from the poorest families are seamlessly covered by TES upon admission to college or technical-vocational institutions.
Prioritizing Low-Income Students in Higher Education
As chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Gatchalian emphasized the critical need to prioritize students from low-income households in the implementation of free higher education policies. He argued that this targeted approach is essential for addressing educational inequities and fostering social mobility. The bill, designated as Senate Bill 1894, builds upon special provisions included in the national budgets of 2024 and 2025, which already prioritize 4Ps beneficiaries for TES slots. This comes amid growing concerns over the declining proportion of grantees from impoverished backgrounds, highlighting the urgency of legislative action to safeguard access for the most vulnerable.
Key Provisions and Implementation Mechanisms
Under the proposed legislation, students who complete their secondary education from 4Ps households, as certified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will automatically qualify as TES beneficiaries. This eligibility applies upon their enrollment in any Commission on Higher Education (Ched)-recognized higher education institution or Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda)-recognized technical-vocational institution. To ensure the effective and transparent allocation of grants, the measure also directs the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST) Board to collaborate with Ched, Tesda, the Department of Education (DepEd), and other relevant agencies. Their mandate includes establishing a robust monitoring and validation system to verify that financial assistance reaches only qualified beneficiaries, thereby preventing misuse and enhancing accountability.
This initiative represents a proactive step toward reinforcing the government's commitment to inclusive education. By automating the eligibility process for 4Ps graduates, the bill aims to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and provide timely support, enabling more students from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue tertiary education without financial barriers. As the Senate continues its review, stakeholders are optimistic that this measure will pave the way for a more equitable educational landscape in the Philippines.
