Inday Loren Encourages Antiqueño Youth to Value Education

Senator Loren Legarda has called on the youth of Antique to put in high regard the value of education and seize the opportunity to get a degree for free.

“As the year is about to end, state universities and colleges (SUCs), local state universities and colleges (LUCs), and state-run technical vocational institutions (TVIs) are starting to initiate entrance exams to college education. With Php40 Billion allocated for free college education nationwide, all Filipino college students may now avail of free tuition in all SUCs, LUCs, TVIs,” Legarda said.

“The Filipino youth deserves a bright future, and with the now free college education, there is no reason for them not to enjoy the future that they deserve. The road is paved for them, every Filipino is given a fair chance to access quality education that will open better opportunities for growth,” Legarda added.

Legarda, co-author and co-sponsor of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, added that for other educational expenses not covered by the Law, students may avail of the Tulong Dunong Program under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

She said that Antiqueños have been beneficiaries of the program for school year (SY) 2016-2017 and SY 2017-2018. More students, both in public and private college institutions, will also be provided with educational assistance for SY 2018-2019, including those enrolled in the University of Antique, Saint Anthony’s College, University of the Philippines Visayas, West Visayas State University, Iloilo Doctors College, Aklan State University, Western Institute of Technology, Iloilo Science and Technology University, STI-West Negros University, and even Antiqueños who are taking up tertiary education in Metro Manila.

During her recent visit to Antique, Legarda turned over scholarship grants under CHED Tulong-Dunong Program to more than 3,000 college students from the University of Antique and St. Anthony’s College.

“Education has to be the State’s highest priority in terms of allocation of resources, because there is no greater investment than education to further educate and train our future leaders and build a sustainable and progressive nation,” Legarda concluded.