A Pulse Asia survey commissioned by the office of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian showed that 98 percent of Filipinos favor free tuition in public universities.

Based on the survey, 99 percent are in favor among those in Classes A, B and C; 97 percent in Class D and 100 percent in Class E. The survey was conducted from September 10 to 14 this year.

The support also extends as well across geographic regions such as the National Capital Region (NCR) at 98 percent, Luzon at 96 percent, Visayas at 99 percent, and Mindanao at 100 percent.

The increase in the number of graduates is the primary reason why Filipinos support free tuition in public universities, the study also showed.

According to Gatchalian, this highlights the respondents’ belief that a college degree is the path towards a higher quality of life and better opportunities.

“Marami na sa ating mga kababayan ang nakinabang sa libreng kolehiyo, at mahalagang tiyakin nating patuloy nating mabibigyan ng dekalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon ang ating mga kabataan (Many of our citizens have already benefited from free college program, and it is important that we ensure that we continue to provide quality and affordable education to our youth),” Gatchalian said.

“Titiyakin nating matatanggap ng ating mga SUCs ang suportang kinakailangan nila upang makapaghatid ng dekalidad na edukasyon (We will ensure that our SUCs receive the support they need to deliver quality education),” he added.

The Senate Committee on Basic Education chairman also pointed out that due to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act No. 10931) or the free higher education law, which he co-authored and co-sponsored, youth participation in higher education has increased.

From 2018-2022, he noted that when the free higher education law was already in effect, the progression rate from senior high school to college has rose to an average of 81 percent.

Before the law came into effect and was implemented, the progression rates from high school to college merely stood at 54 percent and 62 percent for Academic years 2013 to 2014 and 2014 to 2015.

Under the proposed 2024 national budget, the lawmaker noted a deficiency of P4.1-billion looming over the budget of State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) for free higher education.

But Gatchalian said he is committed to work towards addressing this deficiency, noting how this would affect the capacity of SUCs to invest in facilities, laboratories, and other resources essential for ensuring quality education.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno had earlier called for a review of RA No. 10931 which was passed in 2017. The law has made it mandatory for public higher education and government-run technical-vocational institutions to provide free quality tertiary education to Filipino students.

According to Diokno, offering free tuition to all students may be wasteful and inefficient as not all students are fully committed to finish their studies.

The finance chief also raised concerns about the program’s sustainability and its potential to drain government resources.