SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday reiterated the need to improve the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or the Free Tuition Law to ensure the continuous education of 1.3 million students.

Gatchalian said the reimbursement of tuition and miscellaneous fees should be automated to prevent delays.

“Ang maayos na pagpapatupad ng Free Tuition Law ay nangangahulugang magpapatuloy ang edukasyon sa mahigit isang milyong mga mag-aaral sa kolehiyo. Sa pagbangon ng sektor ng edukasyon sa pinsala ng pandemya, kailangang palawigin natin ang papel ng teknolohiya upang matiyak ang mabilis at mabisang serbisyo sa ating mga mag-aaral, mga kolehiyo, at mga pamantasan,” the senator said.

A 2019 discussion paper from the Philippine Institute for Development Studies said that when tuition and miscellaneous expenses are not reimbursed, schools would absorb the deficiency or students would have to shoulder the costs.

State Universities and Colleges and Local Universities and Colleges have to submit their billing requirements before they receive their reimbursements.

In September 2020, the Commission on Higher Education reported that 12 SUCs and LUCs have not received reimbursement for tuition and miscellaneous fees because of compliance issues.

Gatchalian said that the imposition of quarantine measures amid the pandemic highlighted the need for automation to lessen the processing of documents’ submission and distribution of funds.

Last year, Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 1793 or the Full Digital Transformation Act of 2020, which seeks to provide full, integrated E-Government services to the public by the end of 2022.

The proposed law will help CHED, as well as SUCs and LUCs, promote zero-contact policy and facilitate a more efficient delivery of services.

Gatchalian’s proposal of a “One Filipino, One Bank Account” will also complement CHED’s efforts to streamline the distribution of subsidies, including stipends for Tertiary Education Subsidy.

The bill seeks to mandate the opening of a bank account or virtual wallet, which will serve as a payment platform for the distribution of financial aid.