(MANILA BULLETIN)

A bill that seeks to establish a voucher program for poor but qualified students in private higher educational institutions (HEIs) and technical-vocational institutions (TVIs) has been overwhelmingly approved in the House of Representatives.

Passed on third and final reading last Monday, May 22 was House Bill (HB) No.7922, which would also revise some provisions of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) for students in public and private HEIs under Republic Act (RA) No.10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA).

Deputy Speaker and Antipolo City 1st district Rep. Roberto Puno, the presiding officer during plenary session Monday, announced that the bill garnered 265 "yes" votes during nominal voting.

None of the House member voted "no", although there were four who abstained.

Under HB No.7922, the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board will administer a portable voucher system that will allow beneficiaries to study in private HEIs and TVIs in cities and municipalities where there are existing state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), and public TVIs.

UniFAST will also determine the eligibility of students under the voucher system, provided that students of private HEIs and TVIs who are TES grantees can no longer qualify for the voucher system.

“We are confident that with this proposed legislation, we will be able to help poor but deserving students to continue and finish their tertiary education. The House of Representatives has always committed and will stay committed to passing bills that will best serve our youth,” Speaker Martin Romualdez said.

The bill directs UniFAST to administer the TES and to prioritize students who are part of households included in the updated Listahanan 3 of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), ranked according to the estimated per capita household income; and students not part of the Listahanan 3, ranked according to estimated per capita household income based on the proof of income.

HB No.7922 seeks to amend UAQTEA, a law that expanded and enhanced the coverage of Free Tuition 2017.

UAQTEA has four programs under it: 1) Free Higher Education (covering tuition and miscellaneous fees) in SUCs and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)-recognized LUCs; 2) Free Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in public and private institutions registered with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); 3) the TES or grants-in-aid for poor students in public and private institutions; and 4) Student Loan Program (SLP) for tertiary education students.

Under TES, beneficiaries would receive allowances for books, supplies, transportation, and a reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of computers, and other education-related expenses, as well as allowance for room and board costs to be incurred by the student.

Some of the principal authors of the bill are Reps. Lani Mercado Revilla, LRay Villafuerte, Salvador Pleyto, Manuel Jose Dalipe, Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, Sonny Lagon, Daphne Lagon, Janette Garin, Stella Luz Quimbo, Dante Garcia, Alfred Delos Santos, Bryan Revilla, and Ramon Jolo Revilla III.