Marcos Signs Law Expanding Tertiary Education Aid for Poor Students

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law a measure that expands government assistance for college and vocational course students from poor households, including qualified beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The new law, Republic Act 12325, amends the existing Republic Act 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. Under RA 12325, poor and deserving students pursuing priority programs, who may not be covered by existing grants, can now receive government support to pursue their studies in qualified private higher education and technical-vocational institutions. The law broadens the scope of government support to include costs for internships or other professional licensure, as well as allowances for students with disabilities. It also establishes the Private Education Assistance program, which will support disadvantaged students in priority programs at private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions. Furthermore, RA 12325 mandates regular adjustments of grants. The Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Board is required to review and adjust tertiary education subsidies every two years to account for inflation and changing education costs. Shirley Agrupis, Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education, stated that they will collaborate with partner agencies to ensure the law's benefits reach the students most in need. The Second Congressional Commission on Education welcomed the enactment, noting that the new law tightens the targeting of financial assistance, expands support to students, and builds new safeguards for implementation.