(Eagle News) — A measure providing what a senator described as “virtually free” education in state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and selected vocational schools may soon become law.
In a recent statement, Senator Bam Aquino, principal sponsor and co-author of the Senate version of the measure, said this was because the ratified version of the measure was already transmitted to the Office of the President for approval on July 5.
This means that the measure automatically becomes a law after 30 days, or on Aug. 5, provided President Rodrigo Duterte does not veto the measure or sign it earlier.
“Mas maganda kung ito’y pipirmahan ng Pangulo nang maaga upang maibalita niya sa sambayanang Pilipino sa kanyang State of the Nation Address (SONA) sa ika-24 ng Hulyo,” Aquino said.
If passed into law, the government will shoulder the tuition, miscellaneous and other fees in SUCs, LUCs and vocational schools under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, making education there “virtually free,” Aquino said.
Students from public and private colleges and universities may also avail of scholarship grants, or apply to be part of a loan program for their education expenses.