NINETY eight percent of Filipinos favor free tuition in public universities, a Pulse Asia survey commissioned by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian revealed on Tuesday.

The survey said the support extends across all economic classes. It garnered 99% support from Classes ABC, 97% in Class D, and 100% in Class E.

Free tuition support is also high across geographic regions such as the National Capital Region where it received 98% support, Balance Luzon at 96%, Visayas at 99%, and Mindanao at 100%.

The survey was conducted from September 10 to 14 this year.

Increase in the number of graduates is the top reason why Filipinos support free tuition in public universities, which according to Gatchalian may highlight the respondents’ belief that a college degree forges a path towards a higher quality of life and better opportunities.

When asked why they support free college tuition, more than half or 51% of the survey’s 1,200 adult respondents said that it results in more graduates.

Meanwhile, 1% of those who are not in favor of free tuition in public universities said that they are concerned about the quality of education, while the other 47% cited the issue of underfunding in public universities.

Gatchalian said that because of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act 10931 or the free higher education law, which he co-authored and co-sponsored, youth participation in higher education has increased.

From 2018-2022, when the free higher education law was already in effect, the progression rate from senior high school to college surged to an average of 81%.

For Academic Years 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, before the Free Higher Education Law was implemented, the progression rates from high school to college stood at 54% and 62%, respectively.

“Marami na sa ating mga kababayan ang nakinabang sa libreng kolehiyo, at mahalagang tiyakin nating patuloy nating mabibigyan ng dekalidad at abot-kayang edukasyon ang ating mga kabataan. Titiyakin nating matatanggap ng ating mga SUCs ang suportang kinakailangan nila upang makapaghatid ng dekalidad na edukasyon,” said Gatchalian.

Gatchalian vowed to work to plug the P4.1 billion budget deficiency for next year, saying that lack of budget would affect the capacity of SUCs to invest in facilities, laboratories and other resources essential for ensuring quality education.