PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos said Friday disadvantaged learners may study for free in private schools and technical-vocational training institutions after he signed Republic Act 12325 amending the Universal Access to Quality Education.
The new piece of legislation amended RA 10391 of 2017 and expanded its coverage so it will now not only provide free tuition for students in public colleges, universities, and technical-vocational institutions.
It is among the 24 priority bills discussed during the fourth Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (Ledac) meeting last month.
‘Poor and deserving students taking priority programs who are not covered by existing grants may also receive government support to pursue their studies in qualified private higher education and technical-vocational institutions,’ Marcos said at the ceremonial signing event for RA 12325 in Malacañang.
RA 12325 also makes sure government assistance reaches those who need it most, particularly students from poor and disadvantaged families, including qualified beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PSs).
‘This expands the opportunities for more Filipinos to earn a degree, a diploma, or skills qualification,’ the President said.
He ordered the Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education to promptly craft the implementing rules and regulations of RA 12325.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) welcomed the signing of the law.
The stronger prioritization seeks to ensure that government assistance reaches more learners from the poorest families. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom II) found that while free higher education significantly increased college participation among poor households, many 4Ps learners still had difficulty accessing TES. In Academic Year 2024-2025, only 4,746, or 1.23 percent, of 384,388 4Ps senior high school completers accessed TES as first-year beneficiaries.
CHED Chairperson and UniFAST Board Chair Shirley C. Agrupis witnessed the ceremonial signing with Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Tesda Director General Jose Francisco ‘Kiko’ Benitez, reflecting the One Education approach of DepEd, CHED, and Tesda in providing more connected support for Filipino learners from basic education to higher and technical-vocational education.
Agrupis said CHED and UniFAST will work with partner agencies to ensure that the expanded benefits of the law reach the students who need them most.
‘Free tuition opened the doors of higher education to millions of Filipinos, but getting into college is only the first step. 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.
The law also expands the assistance that qualified TES beneficiaries may receive. This includes additional support for internships and Related Learning Experience (RLE), as well as other allowances for economically disadvantaged students who face added costs in pursuing their education.
Students who qualify for TES will continue receiving the subsidy for the regular duration of their program. Those unable to finish on time because of economic hardship, health concerns, disasters, or other reasons may also receive up to one additional year of support, subject to evaluation and approval.
The amended law also creates the Private Education Assistance (PEA) for poor and deserving students who wish to enroll in priority programs offered by qualified private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions.
Public colleges, universities, and state-run technical-vocational institutions will also be required to put in place measures to help disadvantaged students enter and finish tertiary education. These may include waived admission examination fees, assistive technologies, and priority access to available dormitories.
CHED, Tesda, UniFAST, and other concerned agencies will next prepare the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) to guide the implementation of the expanded benefits under RA No. 12325.
Priority of administration
Improving access to quality education is a priority of the Marcos administration to enhance the competitiveness of the country’s workforce.
Under his term, Marcos said the number of Free Higher Education beneficiaries rose to 2.6 million as of the first semester of 2026.
He said they also launched last January the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, for outstanding Senior High School graduates pursuing priority degree programs in higher education or priority Technical and Vocational Education and Training diploma programs.
The Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute also increased the number of its undergraduate scholars from around 45,024 scholars in School Year 2022-2023 to 48,520 in School Year 2025-2026.
The said initiatives, he said, may have started to bear fruit as 140 local colleges made it to the World University Rankings for Innovation-from just 12 in 2022.
‘We often speak of our youth as the seeds of our nation’s future. We hope to see them grow and thrive, and reach their full potential. But even the strongest seeds cannot flourish without fertile ground,’ he said.
Significant step
Albay 3rd District Rep. Raymond Adrian E. Salceda said the expanded TES will help address one of the biggest challenges faced by poor students: the cost of staying in school despite having the ability and determination to finish their education.
‘Republic Act No. 12325 is a significant step toward ensuring that poverty will not prevent deserving Filipino students from achieving their dreams. By providing greater access to financial assistance, this law gives more young people the chance to earn a degree, build a better future, and contribute to the development of our country,’ Salceda said.
Salceda said the expanded subsidy will provide critical assistance to students who face financial barriers despite their determination and academic qualifications. The support will help cover education-related expenses such as transportation, daily allowances, school supplies, learning materials, and other costs needed to remain in school.
Salceda emphasized that every investment in helping disadvantaged students complete their education contributes to building a more capable workforce and creating greater social mobility for future generations.