A budget of P2.910 billion has been allocated for the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTEA) this year, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) said Wednesday, April 27.

With this, TESDA said, only 53,377 existing learners enrolled under UAQTEA and diploma programs can be accommodated.

TESDA said in the past it was allocated a higher budget - P6.9 billion in 2018; P3.910 billion in 2019; and P2.910 billion in 2020 and 2021, for the implementation of UAQTEA nationwide.

"Due to the 2022 budgetary constraint, new enrollees under the UAQTEA cannot be accommodated," it said.

It was in April 2017 when President Duterte signed Republic Act 10931 or the UAQTEA which gives Filipinos the opportunity to avail of free tertiary education, and to give equal chances for them to receive this from both public and private institutions.

For its part, TESDA implements UAQTEA as diploma programs or the Philippine Quality Framework (PQF) Level V. Training duration for UAQTEA lasts for three years. If completed, a scholar can continue the program into a bachelor’s degree.

For this year, Region III has the largest number of UAQTEA scholarship slots with 10,157. This is followed by Caraga and Region XI with 7,660 and 7,498 scholarship slots, respectively.

In a statement, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said scholars under UAQTEA receive benefits such as free tuition and miscellaneous fees, as well as trainee support provisions such as costs for national competency assessment, instructional materials, living allowance, starter toolkit and workshop T-shirts.

He added that technical vocational education and training (TVET) is vital, as those who cannot afford a college degree can take up these courses.

“TESDA trainings are very helpful to Filipinos especially to those who cannot afford to go to college. Many employers, local and abroad, require their applicants to be holders of TESDA-issued National Certificate (NC),” Lapeña said.

In 2021, TESDA produced 17,910 graduates under the UAQTEA. Some of the courses offered under UAQTEA are Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Technology, Diploma in Information Technology, Diploma in Nursing Technology, Diploma in Agricultural Technology, among others.

Those interested to enroll in TESDA courses under UAQTEA can visit the nearest TESDA Office in their area.