Legarda secures bicameral approval of measure strengthening free college law

The bicameral conference committee, composed of conferees from the Senate and the House of Representatives, has adopted and signed today the reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1894, principally sponsored and authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, and House Bill No. 8476 of the House of Representatives, enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) to ensure that the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) reaches the poorest and most vulnerable Filipino learners.

Legarda steered the deliberations and final approval of the reconciled measure. The measure institutionalizes automatic prioritization of TES eligibility for Senior High School graduates from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) households, expands allowances to cover books, transportation, laptops, and housing, and mandates all state and local universities and colleges, as well as technical-vocational institutions, to adopt Equity and Inclusion Plans to guarantee fair and inclusive access for disadvantaged students.

“Education opens doors that poverty tries to close. With this measure, we are ensuring that financial constraints will no longer prevent young Filipino from completing their education. The expanded Tertiary Education Subsidy covers transportation, housing, books, and laptops. This measure gives every child, regardless of circumstances, the chance to pursue their aspirations and graduate with dignity. It is about hope, fairness, and the belief that no young person should be denied the future they deserve simply because of poverty,” Legarda said.

The reconciled bill also provides additional support for learners with disabilities and mandates regular reviews of TES grant amounts to keep pace with rising education costs.

Legarda has consistently been at the forefront of education reforms. She previously chaired the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education before assuming the chairpersonship of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, and is currently serving as Co-Chairperson of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

“This is more than a subsidy, it is a commitment to fairness and opportunity. I have seen how inequities in our system hold back so many young Filipinos. Through this measure, we are telling them that they belong in the classroom, that they deserve to graduate, and that they have a rightful place in building our nation’s future,” she added.

The signed bicameral report will be transmitted for ratification by both chambers, a decisive step toward a more inclusive and equitable tertiary education system. (30)

Legarda, pinangunahan ang pagpasa ng bicam report para palakasin ang libreng kolehiyo

Pinagtibay at nilagdaan ngayong araw ng Bicameral Conference Committee, na binubuo ng mga kinatawan mula sa Senado at Kamara, ang pinag-isang bersyon ng Senate Bill No. 1894 na principally sponsored at authored ni Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, at House Bill No. 8476. Layunin ng panukala na palakasin ang Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) upang matiyak na ang Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) ay makarating sa pinakamahirap at pinakanangangailangang kabataang Pilipino.

Pinangunahan ni Legarda ang deliberasyon at pinal na pag-apruba ng bicam report. Nakasaad sa panukala ang awtomatikong pagbibigay-prayoridad ng TES para sa mga nagtapos ng Senior High School mula sa mga pamilyang benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), pagpapalawak ng allowance para sa aklat, pamasahe, laptop, at pabahay, at ang obligasyon ng lahat ng state at local universities and colleges, gayundin ng mga technical-vocational institutions, na magpatupad ng Equity and Inclusion Plans upang matiyak ang patas at inklusibong akses para sa mga estudyanteng nasa laylayan.

“Binubuksan ng edukasyon ang mga pintuang sinusubukang isara ng kahirapan. Sa panukalang ito, sinisiguro natin na hindi na magiging hadlang ang kakulangan sa pera para makapagtapos ang kabataang Pilipino. Saklaw ng pinalawak na Tertiary Education Subsidy ang pamasahe, pabahay, aklat, at laptop. Binibigyan nito ng pagkakataon ang bawat bata, anuman ang kalagayan, na tuparin ang kanilang pangarap at makapagtapos nang may dignidad. Ito ay tungkol sa pag-asa, katarungan, at paniniwala na walang kabataan ang dapat pagkaitan ng kinabukasang nararapat sa kanila dahil lamang sa kahirapan,” ani Legarda.

Nagbibigay rin ang panukala ng dagdag na suporta para sa mga mag-aaral na may kapansanan at nagtatakda ng regular na pagsusuri sa halaga ng TES upang makasabay sa tumataas na gastusin sa edukasyon.

Matagal nang nasa unahan si Legarda sa pagsusulong ng mga reporma sa edukasyon. Naging chairperson siya ng Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education bago pamunuan ang Senate Committee on Basic Education, at kasalukuyang Co-Chairperson ng Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).

“Hindi lamang ito subsidy kundi isang pangako ng patas na oportunidad. Nakita ko kung paanong ang mga kakulangan sa ating sistema ay pumipigil sa napakaraming kabataang Pilipino. Sa panukalang ito, sinasabi natin sa kanila na may puwang sila sa ating sistema ng edukasyon, na karapat-dapat silang makapagtapos, at na may mahalagang papel sila sa pagbuo ng kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” dagdag pa niya.

Ang nilagdaang bicameral report ay ipapadala na para sa ratipikasyon ng dalawang kapulungan—isang mahalagang hakbang tungo sa mas inklusibo at makatarungang sistema ng tertiary education. (30)