SENATE Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senator Juan Edgardo Angara on Monday backed the proposed review of the free college education program for state universities and colleges.

Angara said the review should focus on how to collect payment from students from rich families.

The senator said students from rich families should pay their tuition so that the government can have more resources to help poor families.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier called for a review of the Free College Education program saying it is not sustainable.

Pimentel said Diokno raised valid points but they have to make sure that the free education would be given to those in need. He said that there should be a competitive examination for those who want to enter SUCs.

However, Sen. Francis Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Higher Education, said he could not understand Diokno’s refusal to invest or give more allocations to human capital.