“Matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat ng Pilipino.”

Dubbed as “AmBisyon Natin 2040,” the Philippine Development Plan by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte aims for Filipinos to enjoy a strongly rooted, comfortable, and secure life.

Around 1,200 tertiary education stakeholders from Cagayan Valley region attended the Nationwide Information Caravan in Solano, Nueva Viscaya.

For the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), this vision can be achieved with the help of the Republic Act (RA) 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) and was highlighted Wednesday during the Region II leg of the Nationwide Information Caravan on RA 10931 which happened at the PLT Multi-Purpose Convention Center in Solano, Nueva Viscaya.

Attendees had the chance to ask about the four programs under RA 10931 during the open forum at the Nationwide Information Caravan in Solano, Nueva Viscaya.

In her keynote address, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director Mary Anne E.R. Darauay expressed to more than 1,200 tertiary education stakeholders how the landmark law will ensure students obtain competencies and access to lifelong learning opportunities.

 “Please let us remind ourselves that we have aspired for a Matatag, Maginhawa, at Panatag na Buhay para sa lahat ng Pilipino as our AmBisyon Natin 2040. This is our long-term vision. And with that vision, the first-ever, people-centered Philippine Development Plan was crafted and approved by no less than our President Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Darauay said.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director Mary Anne E.R. Darauay explained how RA 10931 is aligned with the Duterte administration’s “AmBisyon 2040.”

There are four programs under RA 10931: 1) Free Higher Education wherein the government will provide free tuition, miscellaneous and other similar or related fees to students admitted in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and CHED-recognized Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), 2) Free Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for those enrolled in state-run Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs), 3) Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) or grants-in-aid, and 4) national Student Loan Program (SLP).

On her part, UniFAST Officer-in-Charge Executive Director Atty. Carmelita Yadao-Sison expressed her sincere gratitude to President Duterte for his keen and sensitive foresight and unmatched courage to stand up for this law.

“It took a President with a strong political will and determination to move the forces of government into investing and making this law a firm foundation for the attainment of what the Philippine Constitution admonishes in Article XIV should be given the highest budgetary priority in government – Education,” Yadao-Sison emphasized.

UniFAST Officer-in-Charge Executive Director Atty. Carmelita Yadao-Sison thanked President Duterte for signing into law RA 10931.

In Cagayan Region, five SUCs will directly benefit from Free Higher Education, these are: Batanes State College, Cagayan State University, Isabela State University, Nueva Viscaya State University, and Quirino State University.