A NATIONWIDE  study commissioned by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) found that while many Philippine colleges and universities have adopted affirmative action policies, their implementation is uneven, and support for marginalized students remains inconsistent.

Titled “Affirmative Action in Philippine Higher Education Institutions: Evidence from a New Survey,” the study—authored by Dr. Jan Carlo Punongbayan and Jefferson Arapoc—was conducted by EDCOM II in partnership with Ateneo de Manila University. It represents the first systematic, nationwide mapping of affirmative action policies in Philippine higher education.

Affirmative action, defined in the study as proactive measures such as quota systems, reserved slots, bridging programs, and adjusted admissions criteria, aims to level the playing field for students from low-income households, indigenous communities, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

The study acknowledges the gains of Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which removed tuition fees in public higher education. Citing Asian Development Bank data, it noted that higher education participation among the poorest households rose from 4.6% to 19.7%, while household education expenditures fell by 84% between 2014 and 2022.

However, EDCOM II stressed that tuition-free education alone does not eliminate barriers for students with historical, social, and structural disadvantages.

Based on a survey of 529 HEIs nationwide, the study found significant disparities in affirmative action adoption: 77% of state universities and colleges have at least one policy, compared to 45% of private HEIs and 43% of local universities and colleges. This is notable given that the implementing rules of RA 10931 require all SUCs and LUCs to implement affirmative action programs, though clear guidelines from the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education have been lacking since 2018.

Despite outreach efforts—78% of SUCs and 74% of LUCs conduct pre-admission outreach—student awareness remains low: only 55% of SUC students are aware of such programs, falling to 40% in LUCs and 45% in private HEIs, with one-third of private HEIs conducting no outreach at all.

The study also highlighted gaps in long-term student support. While career counseling and mental health services are widely offered—prioritized by roughly 80% of institutions—preparatory or bridging programs for underprepared students remain limited. Moreover, more than half of HEIs surveyed do not track graduation rates or labor market outcomes for students admitted through affirmative action, making it difficult to measure their impact on completion, employment, and social mobility.