AS part of the Duterte administration’s continuing efforts in developing the country’s

educational system, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go
kicked off the ground-breaking ceremony of the Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) new
campus at the Quezon Coconut Research Center in Catanauan, Quezon.

Go, along with other government officials, led the unveiling of SLSU Catanauan Master Plan as
he emphasized that education remains President Rodrigo Duterte’s priority.

He cited the President’s move of signing the free tuition law which provided free tertiary
education to State Universities and Colleges, adding that the national government is eyeing
various approaches to help improve S

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday, June 13, vowed to further empower the youth by making quality
education affordable and accessible to everyone, especially the poor.
President Duterte made this commitment as he witnessed the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of
Agreement (MOA) between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the 112 State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs) and 78 Local Universities (LUCs) to launch the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 10931 or
the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.”
“Education is the single most important legacy that we can bestow upon our youth. It opens doors for countless
opportunities that will lead to their further empowerment, greater success and the realization of their individual
aspirations,” the President said.
“At present, millions of Filipino youth are still having a hard time finishing their studies due to poverty. Many
poor students are struggling to go to school simply because they have no money for allowance, transportation,
books and projects and for other miscellaneous expenses,” he added.
Duterte noted that the signing of the MOA “is a crucial step in helping young Filipinos fulfill their dreams of
becoming productive members of our country’s workforce through academic degrees and technical or
vocational training.”
The President also recognized the valuable efforts of Congress, CHED, TESDA, and other state universities
and colleges, local universities and colleges, technical vocational institutions, and other partners for making
free quality tertiary education for all a reality.
Aside from broadening the access to tertiary education, the President said that the government would prioritize
improving the quality of education in the country.
“As we bring education closer to poor students, we must also ensure that the quality of education is not
compromised and that its benefits are cascaded to all,” Duterte said.
“I therefore ask our state and local educational institutions, our esteemed teachers, administrators and
everyone involved in the effective and efficient implementation of RA 10931 to do your best in fulfilling your
respective mandates under this law,” he said.
Duterte said encouraging the youth to finish their studies will keep them away from being involved in crime and
illegal drugs.
“One of the reasons why I’m really so passionate in my advocacy sa drugs pati crime and criminality is my
constant — our constant worry about the tomorrow of our children,” he said.
“This is why we have made it a priority to make quality education affordable and accessible to all,” he said.
According to CHED officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera, more than 800,000 students did not pay their tuition in
June 2017 while close to 1.3 million students will not pay tuition and miscellaneous fees this year.
Out of the 1.3 million students, 300,000 students from the 4Ps program will be given additional subsidy by the
government.
Last August 3, 2017, President Duterte, signed into law RA 10931, specifically strengthening and mandating
the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFast), an agency created under
Republic Act No. 10687, to implement all the identified programs stated in RA. No. 10931.
This program and the student loan program under RA. 10931 are expected to aid around 1.3 million students
with an at least P50 billion allocation budget.
Students in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges and technical-vocational schools will
be exempted from paying tuition fees and miscellaneous fees. Honoraria of trainers in tech-voc schools are
also waived.
The President witnessed the signing with Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr., Albay Rep. Joey
Salceda, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, and Zamboanga Sibugay 2nd District Rep. Ann Hofer. PND ###

MANILA, Philippines – The full implementation of the controversial K to 12 program coincides

with the transition period of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte's administration.

But incoming education secretary Leonor Briones said Duterte's concerns now are mainly the
students who are still out of school, and college teachers who might be displaced because of K
to 12's senior high.

Duterte has decided to support the K to 12 program after being initially skeptical about it, given

the criticism from some sectors.

Briones talked about Duterte's marching orders during her first press conference as incoming
education secretary on Monday, June 6.

"Those who are out of the loop should not be left behind, and he's also very concerned about
the teachers who might be displaced. Although...adjustments and preparations have been made
for the past 4 years for teachers who fear that they will be displaced," Briones said.

But Briones said it's important first to find out the actual number of college teachers who will be
displaced because of K to 12.

Data from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) showed 13,634 teaching staff and
11,456 non-teaching staff may be displaced because of Grade 11 and the expected drop in
college enrollment.