Senate Ratifies Enhanced Free College Law: Legarda Hails Wider Support for Learners

The Senate ratified on June 17 the bicameral conference committee report on Senate Bill No. 1894, principally sponsored and authored by Senator Loren Legarda, and House Bill No. 8476. The measure enhances the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931), strengthening the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) to give poor and vulnerable students the support they need to stay in school and graduate despite financial hardship.

The ratified measure institutionalizes automatic TES eligibility for Senior High School graduates from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households, expands allowances to cover essential student needs, and requires all state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and technical‑vocational institutions to adopt Equity and Inclusion Plans to guarantee fair access for disadvantaged learners.

“Walang kabataan ang dapat mapigil ng kahirapan sa pag‑aaral. Ang batas na ito ay nagbibigay ng lakas ng loob at pantay na pagkakataon para sa bawat estudyante na makatapos nang may dangal,” Legarda said.

The proposal further provides additional support for learners with disabilities and requires regular reviews of TES amounts to keep pace with rising education costs.

According to the report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II), the share of TES beneficiaries from the poorest families dropped from 70.73% in 2018 to only 22.89% in 2022. Out of 384,388 4Ps senior high school completers, only 4,746 or 1.23% received TES as first‑year beneficiaries in Academic Year 2024‑2025. The measure directly addresses this decline by strengthening targeting and expanding coverage.

The proposal also introduces the Private Education Assistance Program, which extends support to students in private colleges and TVET schools. This provision aims to level opportunities so that education is within reach regardless of where students are enrolled.

Legarda has long advanced education reforms. She previously chaired the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, the Senate Committee on Basic Education, and also served as Co‑Chairperson of EDCOM II.

“Ang repormang ito ay patunay na may lugar ang bawat kabataan sa ating mga paaralan. Ipinapakita natin na may halaga ang kanilang pangarap at may suporta ang kanilang paglalakbay. Sa batas na ito, mas makatarungan na ang sistema ng edukasyon,” she added.

The ratification marks a decisive step toward a more inclusive tertiary education system, ensuring that the promise of free college education truly reaches those who need it most. (30)