Manila, Philippines - As he promised President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a law granting free-tuition in all state universities in the Philippines, setting aside the advice of his economic advisers to reject the measure.
"I am pleased to announce that last night, Aug. 3, 2017, the President signed into law the enrolled bill," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said during the Minadano Hour briefing at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
Earlier Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the government may not be able to shoulder the cost of granting free tuition in SUCs, which could run to about PHP100 billion annually if the bill passes into law.
"I am pleased to announce that last night, Aug. 3, 2017, the President signed into law the enrolled bill," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said during the Minadano Hour briefing at Conrad Hotel in Pasay City.
Earlier Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the government may not be able to shoulder the cost of granting free tuition in SUCs, which could run to about PHP100 billion annually if the bill passes into law.
"The free education for tertiary education in SUGs (State universities and colleges) is a very strong pillar or cornerstone of the president's social development policy," Guevarra added.
Likewise, the DBM's PHP P100-billion estimated budget seems to be on the very high side because it is on the basis on the assumption that all aspects of the free tuition bill will be implemented all at the same time.
Malacanang explined that the law only compels the government to subsidize free tuition and other fees such as library fees, ID fees and laboratory fees among others. In addition the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said that an initial amount of PHP16 billion may be needed to fund the mandatory provisions of the law.
Duterte's economic program focuses on infrastructure spending and fiscal efficiency to lift the growth to as much as 8 percent before the end of his term on 2022. The administration has planned a whopping $180 billion infrastruture spending and ask law makers to pass new revenue measures.
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