Marcos signs law expanding free college aid for Filipino students, including qualified 4Ps beneficiaries

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law expanding government support for tertiary education, with poorer students set to receive more help with the costs of staying in college or technical training.

Filipino students facing financial barriers to higher education are set to get expanded government assistance after Marcos signed a major amendment to the country’s free tertiary education law.

The President signed Republic Act 12325, or the amended Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Friday.

The law strengthens the existing free tuition program while expanding financial assistance for students who need help with expenses beyond tuition.

Among those specifically highlighted by Marcos are qualified beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“The amendments ensure that government assistance reaches those who need it most, particularly students from poor and disadvantaged families, including qualified 4Ps beneficiaries,” Marcos said.

The original law, Republic Act 10931, made tuition and other school fees free for qualified students at public higher education and state-run technical-vocational institutions.

But the government says simply opening the doors to free education is not enough.

“While we have opened the doors of our public colleges, universities, and technical-vocational institutions, the responsibility of government does not end there,” Marcos said.

“We must help all our learners remain in schools or training until they complete their studies and acquire the skills they need to succeed.”

READ: ₱20K scholarship aid to benefit 400 graduating Cebu City students

What changes under the new law?

RA 12325 expands the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), one of the key financial assistance programs created under the original law.

The expanded subsidy can now cover expenses linked to internships or Related Learning Experience, as well as professional licensure costs.

Students with disabilities can also receive additional allowances under the amended program.

In certain justified circumstances, students will be allowed an additional one year to complete their program.

The changes are designed to tackle a problem that goes beyond getting students into college: helping them actually finish.

Poor and disadvantaged students get priority

The law requires state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and state-run technical-vocational institutions to create Equity and Inclusion Plans.

These plans are intended to provide targeted support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Measures can include fee waivers and priority access to facilities.

The amendments also introduce a pilot program providing assistance to disadvantaged students enrolled in priority programs at private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.

That marks a broader approach to tertiary education funding, with the government recognising a role for both public and private institutions.

TES payments to be reviewed every two years

Another major change is aimed at keeping financial assistance in step with the rising cost of education.

The UniFAST Board will be required to review and adjust TES amounts every two years, taking inflation and changing education costs into account.

The law also creates a single learner reference code to help the government track students and better target financial assistance as they move from secondary to tertiary education.

The system is intended to improve monitoring of beneficiaries and reduce gaps in student support.

More oversight and a complaints process

RA 12325 also puts greater emphasis on accountability.

The Commission on Higher Education and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority are directed to establish formal committees to handle and resolve student complaints.

The government will also have to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress detailing program outcomes, including employment tracer studies and budget utilisation.

That means the expanded program will not simply be measured by how many students receive assistance.

The government will also be expected to track what happens after students graduate or complete their technical training.

Marcos: Education is an investment in the economy

Marcos said continued investment in education and skills development is essential to improving productivity, employment opportunities and the country’s competitiveness.

The amended law builds on the original UAQTE framework, which also institutionalised the TES and student loan programs to help students meet education-related expenses.

The government’s broader goal is now to make sure financial hardship does not prevent students from entering or completing tertiary education.

For Filipino families struggling to cover the costs of higher education, the most important part of the new law may be that the definition of “free education” is becoming broader.

It is no longer just about removing tuition fees.

It is about helping students afford the internships, licences, living costs and other hurdles that can stand between enrolment and graduation.