Free tuition in all state universities and colleges is among the boldest efforts to expand access to higher education and milestone legacies of President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his sixth and last State of the Nation Address Monday, Duterte said he and the lawmakers helped lift the burden of “heavy cost of tertiary education” off the people’s shoulders with the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access for Tertiary Education Act in 2017.

“My administration has worked with the Congress to pass a landmark legislation that had remained unpassed for so many years,” Duterte said.

The landmark law provides free tuition for students of state universities and colleges across the country.

Also provided is financial assistance to poor but deserving students from marginalized families, indigenous communities, or persons with disabilities through the United Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education.

So far, there are 1.6 million students enrolled in 219 state universities and colleges nationwide and the provision of student loans with 2.2 million beneficiaries under the Student Financial Assistance Program. (PNA)