KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel called for strengthening public education systems rather than limiting beneficiaries.

Manuel’s statement was in response to recent remarks from the Department of Education, which proposed excluding affluent students from the free college education program.

“Wrong! Ang libre, de-kalidad, at abot-kamay na edukasyon ay karapatan ng lahat. ‘Wag itong gawing kumpetisyon,” Manuel said.

“Kaya dapat damihan ang slots sa state universities at ayusin ang basic education system,” he added.

Manuel also criticized the current administration’s handling of the education sector, claiming that the Marcos Jr. administration is deflecting its shortcomings onto the free education program.

“The Marcos Jr. administration can’t do its job; that’s why it’s blaming the free education program,” the solon stressed.