The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Friday vowed to advance efforts to support poor and disadvantaged Filipino learners through the newly expanded higher education.

This comes as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law Republic Act 12325, or “An Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” which amends the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act — widely known as the landmark “Free Tuition Law”.

In a statement, CHED and UniFAST Board Chairperson Shirley Agrupis committed to working with other government agencies to ensure the proper implementation of the new law.

“Free tuition opened the doors of higher education to millions of Filipinos, but getting into college is only the first step,” she said.

Under RA 12325, the assistance to qualified Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) beneficiaries may be expanded to cover additional support for internships and Related Learning Experience (RLE), as well as other allowances for economically disadvantaged students who face added educational costs.

“We also have to help our students stay in school and finish, especially those whose families struggle with the everyday costs of pursuing a degree,” Agrupis said.

Eligible TES beneficiaries will continue receiving the subsidy for the regular duration of their program.

Those unable to finish on time because of economic challenges, health concerns, disasters, or other reasons, however, may also receive up to one additional year of support, subject to evaluation and approval.

Moreover, the amendment also establishes the Private Education Assistance to aid poor and deserving students seeking to enroll in priority programs offered by qualified private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.

For its part, public colleges, universities and state-run technical-vocational institutions will be required to put in place measures to help disadvantaged students to enter and finish tertiary education.

These may include waived admission examination fees, assistive technologies, and priority access to available dormitories.

Prior to its enactment, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) found that many members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) still had difficulty in accessing TES despite the significant rise in college participation among poor families.

In Academic Year 2024–2025, only 1.23 percent, or 4,746 out of 384,388 4Ps senior high school completers, accessed TES as first-year beneficiaries. (PNA)