President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12325 on Friday, amending the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act to direct more government assistance to students from poor and disadvantaged families, including beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The law was signed during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace in Manila. It builds on Republic Act 10931, the original 2017 law that made tuition and other fees free at state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and state-run technical-vocational institutions, while extending the Tertiary Education Subsidy to students with limited financial means.
“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.
Under RA 12325, all state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and technical-vocational institutions must adopt Equity and Inclusion Plans, which set out fee waivers and priority access to school facilities for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Tertiary Education Subsidy is also expanded to cover internship or Related Learning Experience costs, professional licensure expenses, and allowances for students with disabilities.
The law allows a one-year extension for students to complete their programs under justifiable circumstances and requires the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act Board to review and adjust subsidy amounts every two years to account for inflation. It also introduces a pilot program extending support to disadvantaged students enrolled in priority programs at private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.
A “single learner reference code” will be established to track beneficiaries from secondary through tertiary education, aimed at improving how the program identifies and monitors recipients. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are directed to set up formal committees to handle student complaints, and the law requires an annual report to Congress covering program outcomes, employment tracer studies, and budget utilization.
“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.”
Implementation timelines for the Equity and Inclusion Plans and the expanded subsidy provisions have yet to be announced by the relevant agencies.
