Senator Win Gatchalian expressed his gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. for reaffirming the government’s commitment to providing free higher education in public universities and colleges. The senator emphasized that education is an investment in the future of the Filipino people, not a burden.
The free higher education law, enacted under Republic Act No. 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act), has significantly expanded access to college education for young Filipinos. Before its implementation, the average enrollment in state and local universities and colleges (SUCs and LUCs) from Academic Year (AY) 2013-2014 to AY 2017-2018 was over 1.6 million. However, after the law took effect, enrollment increased by 13% to more than 1.8 million during AY 2018-2019 to AY 2022-2023.
Senator Gatchalian stressed the importance of continued investment in SUCs and LUCs. These institutions need adequate resources, including state-of-the-art facilities and competent faculty, to deliver quality tertiary education. The senator pledged to collaborate with government agencies and academic partners to ensure that the free higher education law positively impacts the lives of Filipino youth and their families.📚🎓