AROUND 1.6 million students of 220 state and local universities and colleges in the country are now enjoying free education in tertiary level, according to the Commission on Higher Education.

CHED Chairman Prospero de Vera IIII said the development has something to do with the passage of the free college education law.

“Dahil sa pagpirma ninyo (President Duterte) ng Free Higher Education Act, 1.6 million students are now not paying tuition and miscellaneous fees anymore,” De Vera said.

“Malinaw ang mensahe na puwede ka nang hindi lamang mangarap, kundi makamit ang iyong pangarap sa kolehiyo at university,” he added.

In 2017, the Chief Executive signed Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which seeks to provide free tuition for students in SUCs (State Universities and Colleges) and LUCs (Local Universities and Colleges).

Owing to the passage of the law, De Vera said enrollment in public universities have not declined despite the challenges in education sector during the pandemic.

“Ang enrollment sa public universities have not declined during Covid19 dahil libre ang tuition at iyong P40K na nakukuha nila ay naging ayuda na panghabambuhay ng kanilang pamilya ngayong panahon ng Covid19,” he said.

“Kung hindi napirmahan ang RA 10931, mas grabe ang magiging epekto sa panahon ng Covid19. Maraming hindi makakapag-aral dahil walang pang-tuition at walang pantustos,” he added.

Meanwhile, De Vera noted about 435,367 students also benefited from the Tertiary Education Subsidy for Academic Year 2020-2021.