SEN. Bam Aquino on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to further strengthen the Free College Law and ensure it receives adequate funding so that more Filipino students can obtain their college degrees.
Aquino made the assurance as Republic Act 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, marked its ninth anniversary on Monday.
“Nine years have passed since the Free College Law was enacted — a landmark measure that transformed the lives of thousands of young people and their families. Nearly a decade later, it remains one of the most meaningful milestones in my journey as a public servant,” Aquino said in a Facebook post.
Aquino was the principal sponsor of the law during the 17th Congress while serving as chairman of the Senate Committee on Education.
Aquino vowed to continue protecting and increasing funding for the Free College Law so that more Filipino students can benefit from free higher education.
“This 2026, we push for P67 billion to sustain the Free College program as part of the historic P1.34 trillion education budget — the largest investment ever allocated to education in our nation’s history,” Aquino said.
“We will continue to safeguard and fight for this funding to ensure that it is not reduced, but instead increased, so that even more young Filipinos can benefit from the Free College program,” he added.
Aquino said that the Free College Law was the product of a collective effort involving lawmakers, educators, student groups, civil society organizations, and countless Filipinos who rallied behind the landmark law.
