Reaction Paper

President Rodrigo Duterte was set to deliver on July 23, 2018 (Monday, 4pm) his

third State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City, Metro

Manila, Philippines. It was delayed for an hour due to the briefing of Duterte on who will

be seated as the House Speaker besides him. The Congress decided to remove the current

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and former President and now as

Pampangas’Representative, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, sworn in the Congress as House

Speaker just few minutes before the SONA starts. This year’s SONA broke the tradition of

highlighting the administration’s previous year accomplishments but focuses on the desire

and genuine change for the future. President Duterte mentioned the improvement of

Tertiary Education but did not elaborate.

President Duterte signed into law the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education

Act, law providing free tuition for students of 112 state universities and colleges and 78

local universities and colleges in the country, on August 3, 2017, Thursday at 9:00 pm.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera III said P40
billion has been allocated for the first year of implementation of the said law and said to

be executed this Academic Year 2018-2019. As a student, who is turning college next school

year and having a hard time in regards with money, this news is such music in the ears. It

is indeed a great idea to help parents and students who want to go to college and get

degrees. So, when they graduate and get their careers, they will not end up with a lot of

college tuition debt. Another good thing is they can go to the prestigious universities in

the country without thinking of the high amount of tuition fee. People will definitely see

less people trying to leave school. Yet beneficiaries should be screened, only those who

deserves this should be given the chance. Otherwise, the government will be spending a

lot for nothing.

Providing sufficient funds is not enough. The government must give meaning to the

title of the new law – ‘Quality’ Tertiary Education. It empowers people and one of the best

instruments to fight poverty and inclusive growth. To the current and future beneficiaries,

I do hope that they would not waste the chance given and to study well. Do not abuse this

opportunity but take this as a blessing and motivation to finish college. For this concern
should not be ignored because funding in the different field of the government have

stressed out the economists. Always remember that this is the money of the Philippines

we are spending.