Senator Christopher Go has urged the Senate to prioritize expanded access to free tertiary education, filing Senate Bill No. 169 to further widen its coverage.
Speaking at a Senate hearing on higher education on Wednesday, Go, chair of the Senate Committee on Youth, reaffirmed his commitment to making education more inclusive and accessible, especially for poor and disadvantaged Filipino youth.
“Education is a right, not a privilege, kaya tuloy tuloy lang po ang ating trabaho… Prayoridad ko ang edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan na pundasyon ng kanilang mga pangarap. Ito ang susi sa kanilang magandang kinabukasan,” he said.
Go recalled the passage of Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, signed under the Duterte administration, where he served as Special Assistant to the President.
He credited senators Win Gatchalian, Bam Aquino, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Joel Villanueva, among others, for pushing the measure despite resistance from economic managers concerned about funding.
“Muntik na po itong na-veto dahil may concerns nga ang economic managers, pero alam po ni (CHED) Chairman Popoy de Vera yan, na ipinaglaban po natin ito until the last minute,” the senator said, adding that the law has since enabled millions of students to pursue higher education without tuition fees.
However, Go said more needs to be done. Many students, especially in remote areas, still lack access to public universities or desired programs.
His bill seeks to expand the Tertiary Education Subsidy to cover qualified poor students enrolled in private higher education institutions and technical-vocational institutions, particularly in areas without nearby public schools.
The measure also proposes a voucher system to allow academically qualified but financially challenged students to study in private schools when public options are unavailable.
Go cited the 39% national dropout rate in higher education, based on the Second Congressional Commission on Education, as proof of the urgency to act.
“Marami sa ating mga estudyante ngayon ang unang miyembro ng kanilang pamilya na nakatungtong sa kolehiyo. Bitbit nila ang pangarap na mabago ang tadhana ng kanilang mga pamilya.” he said.
Quoting national hero Jose Rizal, Go stressed that empowering the youth through education is key to nation-building.
“If we fail to support them in finishing their education, we risk failing not just these students, but also the future of our nation.”IMT
