PBBM signs RA 12325 to overhaul college subsidies for marginalized students

A new measure signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on September 4 prioritizes marginalized Filipino college and vocational students for government subsidies.

Republic Act 12325, otherwise known as “An Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” amends particular items on Republic Act 10931 which expands the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), allocating slots to students from households enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), with remaining slots distributed based on household income.

During the signing ceremony, Marcos outlined that the importance of the amendment is based on previous data projecting difficulties in accessing affordable and quality education.

Despite built-in priority for marginalized students, Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) assistance dropped from 72.24% in 2018 to 30.74% in 2022, according to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

“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 in Malacañang.

What’s new?

The law introduces the Private Education Assistance (PEA) program, funding students in need enrolled in government-priority courses at CHED-recognized private colleges and TESDA-registered technical schools who lack other grants.

Tiered subsidies now replace the previous flat annual rates of ₱27,000 for private and ₱20,000 for public college students. Base funding varies by degree program, with additional allowances for government-priority courses to address the findings of EDCOM 2 that flat rates heavily concentrated enrollment in business-, education-, and IT-related programs.

The subsidy expands to cover internship and clinical training fees for health-related programs, removing costs that students previously paid out of pocket.

“It is a measure that builds on the government’s promise and strengthens it for the years to come—bringing us closer to a future where every Filipino family has at least one child who completes a bachelor’s degree or a technical-vocational education and training (TVET) program,” Marcos said during a speech.

Authored by House Committee on Education and Culture chair Rep. Roman Romulo and House Committee on Higher and Technical Education chair Rep. Jude Acidre along with Senators Bam Aquino, Joel Villanueva, and Loren Legarda, RA 12325 was part of the priority agenda of the executive branch for the 20th Congress.

Marcos has ordered CHED, TESDA, and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) to draft the law’s implementing rules and regulations.