SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go expressed full support for the measure seeking to amend Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), to strengthen the targeting and delivery of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).

Go said the core intention of the bill—of which he is one of the authors—is to ensure that TES allocations are granted to students who are truly in need.

Since the law was signed in 2017 by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, tuition and other school fees in state universities and colleges have been made free, benefiting millions of Filipino students.

Go described the measure as a major step toward equal opportunity and a better future for the youth, adding that he also filed a separate proposal seeking to expand free tertiary education.

He recalled that the passage of RA 10931 during the 17th Congress was not easy, citing concerns raised by economic managers at the time about its fiscal impact.

Go thanked the measure’s champions in the 17th Congress, including then-principal sponsor Senator Bam Aquino and other lawmakers who supported the landmark reform.

According to Go, the law was even at risk of being vetoed, but proponents stood firm in defending free college education as an investment in the nation’s future. He shared that during his time as Special Assistant to the President, he pushed for the measure’s approval and urged the Commission on Higher Education to explain its importance.

Despite the gains under RA 10931, Go acknowledged that access to higher education can still be improved. For many Filipino families living paycheck to paycheck, he said daily allowances, dormitory fees, and other indirect expenses remain heavy burdens.

Go emphasized that the measure also promotes transparency and accountability by preventing a “palakasan,” or patronage system, in the distribution of aid.

“Education assistance should never depend on who you know. It should depend on how much you need,” he stressed.