REPUBLIC ACT NO.

10931
UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO QUALITY
EDUCATION ACT.
 OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the lesson the students should be able to:

01 Define what is R.A No. 10931

02 Discuss its background

03 discuss the 21 sections under R.A No. 10931

04 Establish deep understanding in the important

programs under the R.A 10931
05 Highlight important sections in R.A NO. 10931
 REPUBLIC ACT No. 10931
Section 1: Universal access to Quality Tertiary Eductaion
Act.

Signed by president Rodrigo Duterte on 03 August 2017

An act promoting universal access to quality tertiary education
by providing free tuition and other school fees in state.
Universiyies and and colleges, and state-run technical
vocational institutions, establishing the tertiary education
subsidy and student loan program, strengthening the unified
student financial assistance system for tertiary education, and
appropriating fund therefore.", as stated in the title of the law.
 Backroud

It is a law that expanded and

enhanced the coverage of free tuition
2017. It is composed of four (4)
equally important programs.

FREE TUIITION 2017

ls a special program of the government that was

inserted in the budget of the Commission on
Higher Education (CHED) that made tuition fees
free in state universities and colleges (SUCs) for
academic year (AY) 2017-2018. Miscellaneous and
other school fees are not covered i free tuition
2017.
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the
"Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act".

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared that quality education is an inalienable right of all Filipinos and it is the policy of
the State to protect and promote the rights of all students to quality education at all levels. Therefore, the State shall take appropriate
steps to make such education accessible to all.

Likewise, the State hereby recognizes the complementary roles of public and private higher education institutions and technical-
vocational institutions in the educational system and the invaluable contribution that the private tertiary schools have made and will
make to education. For these intents, the State shall:

(a) Provide adequate funding and such other mechanisms to increase the participation rate among all socioeconomic classes in tertiary
education;

(b) Provide all Filipinos with equal opportunity to quality tertiary education in both the private and public educational institutions;

(c) Give priority to students who are academically able and who come from poor families;

(d) Ensure the optimized utilization of government resources in education;

(e) Provide adequate guidance and incentives in channeling young Filipinos in their career choices and towards the proper development
and utilization of human resources; and

(f) Recognize the complementary roles of public and private institutions in tertiary educational system.
 Section 3. Definition of Terms. - As used in this Act:

(a) Cost of Tertiary Education refers to (1) tuition and other school fees, (2) educational expenses and (3) the cost of living allowance;

(b) Graduate courses refers to higher education programs leading to a certificate, diploma, master's or doctorate degrees, as may be
authorized and recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(c) Higher education refers to the stage of formal education, or its equivalent, requiring completion of secondary education and
covering programs of study leading to bachelor and advanced degrees, including associate degrees;

(d) Higher Education Institution (HEI) refers to an education institution authorized and recognized by the CHED to offer bachelor's
degree or graduate courses;

(e) Local universities and colleges (LUCs) refers to CHED-accredited public HEIs established by local government units (LGUs)
through an enabling ordinance, financially supported by the LGU concerned, and complaint with the policies, standards and
guidelines of the CHED;

(f) National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan 2.0 refers to the information management
of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. The system
makes available to national government agencies and other social protection stakeholders a database of poor families as reference
in identifying potential beneficiaries of social protection programs;

(g) Other education-related expenses refers to expenses related to the education of a student such as books, school supplies,
uniforms, reproduction of materials, electronic devices necessary for education and other fees such as for practical teaching
devices student publication, yearbook, insurance and student trust funds:
(h) Other school fees refers to fees charges by HEIs and technical-vocational institutions which cover other necessary costs supportive
of instructions, specifically the following: library fees, computer fees, laboratory fees, school ID fees , athletic fees, admission fees,
development fees, guidance fees, handbook fees, entrance fees, registration fees, medical and dental fees, cultural fees and other
similar or related fees;

(i) Private higher education institution refers to HEI not not owned and controlled by the government or its instrumentalities;

(j) Private technical-vocational institution refers to post-secondary technical-vocational institution run by the private sector offering
programs registered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA);

(k) Qualified student refers to any student who possesses all the qualifications under Section 4 and 5 and none of the disqualifications
under Section 6 hereof;

(l) State-run technical-vocational institutions refers to technical-vocational institutions operated by the TESDA or LGUs: Provided, That
in the latter case, the same should be accredited by the TESDA;

(m) State universities and colleges (SUCs) refers to public HEIs established by national government and are governed by their respective
independent boards of trustees or regents;

(n) Student loan program for tertiary education refers to a loan program established under Section 8 of this Act;

(o) Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) refers to the education process designed a post-secondary and lower tertiary
levels, officially recognized as nondegree programs aimed at preparing technicians, paraprofessionals and other categories of middle-
level workers by providing them with a board range of general education, theoretical, scientific and technological studies, and related
job skills training;
(p) Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) refers to learning institutions offering post-secondary (TVET;

(q) Tertiary education refers to the stage of education following the secondary cycle which covers post-
secondary nondegree diploma, TVET, and higher education programs, including graduate education;

(r) Tertiary education subsidy (TES) refers to a subsidy established under Section 7 of this Act;

(s) Tuition fees refer to fees or school charges for subjects or course enrolled in by a tertiary eduaction
student;

(t) Undergraduate courses refers to any program leading to a degree as may be authorized and recognized
by the CHED; and

(u) Unified StudentFinancial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) refers to the harmonized,
state-run and administered system of higher education and technical-vocational scholarships, grants-in-
aid, student loans, and other modalities of student financial assistance program under Republic Act No.
10687.
 Section 4. Free Higher Education in SUCs and LUCs. - All Filipino students who are
either cirrently enrolled at the time of the effectivityof this Act, or shall enroll at any
time thereafter, in courses in pursuance of a bachelor's degree, certificate degree, o
any comparable undergraduate degree in other school fees for units enrolled in:
Provided, That they pass the entrance examination and other admission and
rentention requirements of the SUCs and LUCs: Provided. Further, That all SUCs and
LUCs shall create a mechanism to enable students with the financial capacity to pay
for their education in the SUC and LUC to voluntarily opt out of the tuition and other
school fees subsidy or make a contribution to the school. SUCs and LUCs must report
the tuition payments and contributions collected from these students to the CHED:
Provided, finally, That the amount required to implement the free tuition and other
school fees in SUCs and LUCs shall be determined by the respective governing boards
of SUCs and LUCs based on the projected number of enrollees for each academic
years, which shall be the primary factor in computing the annual proposed budget of
SUCs and, in the case of LUCs, the CHED for such purpose. This shall in turn serve as
the baseline during the preparation of the annual National Expenditure Program (NEP)
by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

Section 5. Free TVET in Post-Secondary TVIs. - All Filipino students who are currently
enrolled at the time of the effectivity of this Act, or shall enroll at any time thereafter in
any post-secondary TVET leading to nondegree certificate or diploma programs offered by
any state-run TVI under the TESDA shall be exempt from paying tuition and other school
fees: Provided, That all state-run TVIs shall create a mechanismto enable students with the
financial capacity to pay for their education in the TVI to voluntarily opt out of the tuition
and other school fees subsidy or make a contribution to the TVI. TVIs must report the
tuition payments and contributions collected from these students.

The amount required to implement the free tuition and other school fees in state-run TVIs
shall be determined by the governing board of the TESDA based on the projected number
of enrollees for each course, which shall be primary factor in computing for the annual
proposed budget of the TESDA for such purpose. This shall in turn serve as the baseline
during the preparation of the annual NEP by the DBM.
 Section 6. Exceptions to Free Tertiary Education. - The following students are ineligible to avail of the free tertiary education:

(a) In SUCs and LUCs:

(1) Students who have already attained a bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any HEI, whether public or
private:

(2) Students who fail to comply with the admission and retention policies of the SUC or LUC;

(3) Students who fail to complete their bachelor's degree or comparable undergraduate degree within a year after the period
prescribed in their program; and

(b) In State-Run TVIs:

(1) Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree, as well as those who have received a certificate or diploma for a technical-
vocational course equivalent to at least National Certificate III and above:

(2) Students who fail in any course enrolled in during the course of the program.

Students ineligible to avail of the free tertiary education shall be charged the tuition and other school fees, as determined by the
respective boards of the SUCs and LUCs, and in the case of the state-run TVIs, to be determined by the TESDA.
 Section 7. TES for Filipino Students. - To support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion
thereof, a TES is hereby established for all Filipino students who shall enroll in undergraduate-post-
secondary programs of SUCs, LUCs private HEIs and all TVIs. The TES shall be administered by the
UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to fund the TES shall be included in the budgets of the CHED
and the TESDA: Provided, That prioritization shall be given to students in the following order: (a) students
who are part of households included in the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita
household income; and (b) students not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per
capita household income based on submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the
UniFAST Board: Provided, further, That such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities and
municipalities with no existing SUC or LUC campus.

The TES may, among others, and to support the cost of tertiary education or any part or portion thereof,
cover the following:

(a) Tuition and other school fees in private HEIs, and private or LGU-operated TVIs, which shall be
equivalent to the tuition and other school fees of the nearest SUC or state-run TVI in their respective
areas;

(b) All allowance for books, supplies transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses including a
reasonable allowance for the documented rental or purchase of a personal computer or laptop and other
education-related expenses:
 (c) An allowance for room and board costs incurred by the student;

(d) For a student with a disability, an allowance for expenses related to the
student's disability, an allowance for expenses related to the student's
disability including special services, personal assistance, transportation,
equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred: and

(e) For a student in a program requiring professional license or certification,

the one (1)-time cost of obtaining the first professional credentials or
qualifications, which may include the following: application fees, notarial
fees, review classes fees, insurance premium fees and documentation fees:
Provided, That the amount of subsidy shall be based on the guidelines set
forth by the UniFAST Board and on the annual budgetary appropriation for
this purpose.
 Section 8. Student Loan Program for Tertiary Education. - To support further the cost of tertiary education or any part or
portion thereof, a student loan program for tertiary education is hereby likewise established for all Filipino students who shall
enroll in SUC, LUC, private HEI and TVET program in all TVIs registered under the TESDA. The Loan program shall be
administered by the UniFAST Board and the amount necessary to fund the program shall be included in the budgets of the
CHED and the TESDA: Provided, That the UniFAST may offer short-term or long-term loans: Provided, further, That those who
availed of the loan during their undergraduate degree may still avail of another cycle of student loan for their pursuit of
graduate studies, including medicine and law after they have fully paid the previously availed loan: Provided, furthermore, That
those who did not avail of the loan program during their undergraduate studies may avail of it to pursue graduate studies
including medicine and law: Provided, finally, That those who did not avail of the loan program during their undergraduate
studies may avail of the loan program for their review expenses for licensure examinations administered by the Professional
Regulation Commission (PRC).

Repayment shall be effected by the incorporating a portion of the loan amount or a percentage thereof in the employee's
monthly Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) contribution, as the case may be based
on a reasonable schedule of repayment and interest rates. As may be formulated by the UniFAST Board.

Payment of the loan amount will commence once the beneficiary secures any gainful employment with compensation,
remuneration or earnings that reaches the Compulsory Repayment Threshold (CRT). For purposes of this Act, the CRT shall be
set and reviewed by the UniFAST Board, and adjusted when necessary.

The UniFAST Board, in consultation with relevant agencies, shall formulate loan payment guidelines for loan beneficiaries
whose earnings are not covered by the GSIS or the SSS programs, including those of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs),
emigrants, and self-employed persons and professionals (SEPs).
Section 10. Quality Standard for SUC and LUC Budgets,
TES and Student Loan Programs. - The CHED and the
TESDA shall ensure quality standards in the review and
consequent endorsement of the budget of the SUCs,
LUCs abd state-run TVIs, respectively. The detailed
design of the TES and student loan programs shall also
be subject to similar quality indicators defined by the
UniFAST Board.

Section 11. Prohibited Act. - Upon effectivity of

this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person, SUC
and state-run TVI to collect tuition and other
school fees from qualified students who
voluntarily opt out of the tuition and other
school fees subsidy or make a contribution to the
school.
Section 12. Penalties. - A violation of the prohibited act under Section
11 of this Act shall be meted a penalty of imprisonment of not less
than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year or a fine of not less
than Twenty thousand pesos (?20,000.00) but not more than One
hundred thousand pesos (?100,000.00), or both, at the discretion of
the court. In case of a university, college or any other judicial entity,
the penalty shall be imposed on the president, treasurer or the officer
or person responsible for the violation.

Section 13. Expansion of the UniFAST Board. - The UniFAST Board shall be expanded to include the
following:

(a) President of the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges as Member;

(b) Chairman of the Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations as Member;

(c) President of the Association of Local Colleges and Universities as Member;

(d) President of the GSIS as a nonvoting Member; and

(e) President of the SSS as a nonvoting Member.

The UniFAST Board is authorized to establish an enhanced organizational structure, staff development and
incentives and such other administrative measures needed for the efficient discharge of tasks and
commensurate to the level and scope of its responsibilities. It may tap the expertise and management
services of eligible service providers subject to the appropriate guidelines promulgated by the UniFAST
Board.
 Section 14. Reporting Requirements. - All SUCs, LUCs and state-run TVIs
shall submit to the CHED and the TESDA respectively, within five (5) days
after the last day of late registration for each semester, a report detailing
the names of students eligible for the free tuition and other school fees in
their institutions.

Section 15. Appropriations. - The amounts necessary to carry out the

provisions of this Act, specifically Section 4, 5, 7 and 8 shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA) and shall be appropriated
under SUCs, CHED and TESDA in accordance with the provisions of this Act:
Provided, That an amount equivalent to not more than three percent (3%)
of the TES and student loan program for tertiary education provided under
this Act may be used as administrative cost under the UniFAST.

Section 16. Other Sources of Funds. The national government is hereby

authorized to prioritize funding this measure in negotiating and utilizing
loan-term deeply concessional official development assistance (ODA).
Other sources of funds such as grants, donations, collections, and other
forms of assistance from local and foreign donors or other public or
private entities, and other private domestic and international sources may
be tapped and facilitated by the UniFAST Board to support the programs
under this Act, subject to the regular auditing guidelines and procedures;

Provided, That in case of donations from foreign sources, acceptance

thereof shall be subject to existing government rules and regulations.
 Section 17. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Universal
Access to Tertiary Eduaction. There is hereby created a Joint
Congressional Oversight Committee to oversee, monitor and evaluate
the implementation of this Act.

The Oversight Committee shall be composed of five (5) members each

from the Senate and from the House of Representatives, and shall
include the following: Chairperson of the Senate Committee on
Education, Arts and Culture; Chairperson of the House Committee on
Higher and Technical Education; Chairperson of the House Committee
on Higher and Technical Education by the Senate President and the
House of Representatives and in the Senate. Funding for the expenses of
the Committee shall be taken from the appropriations of both the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
Section 18. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty
(60) days from the effectivity of this Act, the UniFAST Board, in
consultation with the CHED, the TESDA, and other relevant
stakeholders in higher and technical education, shall promulgate
the implementing rules and regulation necessary to ensure the
efficient and effective implementation of this Act: Provided,
That the failure of the Board to promulgate the said rules and
regulations shall not prevent or delay the effectivity and
implementation of this Act in accordance with Section 21 hereof.
 Section 19. Separability Clause. - Should any part of this Act be
declared unconstitutional or invalid, the other parts or provisions
hereof not affected not thereby shall continue to be in full force
and effect.

Section 20. Repealing Clause. - All laws, executive orders,

presidential decrees, implementing rules and regulations or parts
thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
replealed or modified accordingly.

Section 21. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
after its publication in the Official Gazzette or in a newspaper of
general circulation.
four important programs
under R.A. nO 10931
FREE HIGHER FREE TECH-VOC
EDUCATION AND
EDUCATION
TRAINING

TERTIARY
STUDENT LOAN
EDUCATION
PROGRAM
SUBSIDY
FREE Higher Education

Section 4:

All Filipino students who are either

currently enrolled or shall enroll in any
SUCs and CHED recognized LUCs in the
Philippines who intend to earn bachelor's
degree , or any comparable undergraduate
degree will enjoy free tuition,
miscellaneous, and other school fees as
long as they qualify the admissions and
retention requirements of the school.
 13 standard miscellaneous
fees
Benefits of higher Admission fees
education Athletic fees
Computer fees
Cultural fees
Development fees
Tuition and other school fees Entrance fees
in SUCs and CHED-recognized Guidance fees
LUCs is free. Plus, aspiring Handbook fees
students can also take Laboratory fees
admission/entrance exams of Library fees
the said institutions for free, Medical and dental fees
without any condition. Registration fees
School Id fees
 Exceptions to free higher Education

In SUCs and LUCs

(1) Students who have (3) Students who fail to

already attained a complete their bachelor's
(2) students who fail to
bachelor's degree or degree or comparable
comply with the admission
comparable undergraduate degree
and retention policies of
undergraduate degree within a year after the
the SUC or LUC,
from any HET, period prescribed in their
whether public or programs.
private.
FREE Technical-Vocational
Education & Training is education and training which provides
knowledge and skills for employment. it uses
formal, non-formal and infromal learning
process.

SECTION 5:
All Filipino students who are currently
enrolled or shall enroll at any time, in
any post secondary TVET leading to non-
degree certificate or diploma programs
offered by any state-run TVI under the
TESDA shall be exempt from paying
tuition and other school fees.
 Benefits of TVET

In State - run TVI's

learner's shall be given

Free tuition and other allowances to support their All TVET program in
school fees. training experiences public intitutions
example living allowance,
registered with TESDA
instructional materials
shall be free.
allowance, national
competency assessment
fee, starter tool kits.
CAN AVAIL TVET PROGRAM

All Filipino learner's enrolled

in tehir first national
certificate(NC) I or II in any
CAN'T AVAIL TVET PROGRAM
public technical vocational
institution (TVI) registered
with the technical education Section 6: (b) in state-run TVIs
and skills development
authority (TESDA). 1. students who have obtained a bachelors
degree, recived a certificate or a diploma
for a technical vocational course
equivalent to atleast national certificate
III and above:
2. students who fail in any course enrolled
in during the program.
TERTIARY EDUCATION
SUBSIDY (TES)
SECTION 7:
TES program is established to support the
cost of tertiary education for all Filipino
students who shall enroll in the first
undergraduate program offered in SUCs,
LUCs and private higher education
institutions, subject to prioritization and
availability of funds which shall be
administerd by the UNIFAST board.
 BENEFITS OF TES
SECTION 7
1. Tuition and other school fees in private HEIs, and private or LGU-operated TVIs, which shall
be equivalent to the tuition and other school fees of thr nearest SUC or state run TVI in
their respective area.
2. all allowance for books, supplies transportation and miscellaneous personal expenses
including a reasonable allowance for the documet rental or purchase of a personal
computer or laptop and other education-related expenses.
3. an allowance for room and board costs incured by the student;
4. for a student with disability, an allowance for expenses related to the students disability,
5. for a student in a program requiring professional license or certifications, the one time cost
of obtaining the first professional credentials or qualifications.

The amount of subsidy shall be based on the guidelines set forth by the UNIFAST board and
onthe annual budgetatry appropriation for the purpose.
Student loan program
SECTION 8:

Supports further the cost of tertiary

education or any part or portion thereof,
a student loan program for tertiary
education is hereby likewise established
for all Filipino students who shall enroll in
SUC, LUC, private HEI and TVET program
in all TVIs registered under the TESDA.
THANK YOU!