SENATOR Bam Aquino announced that students undergoing internships and Related Learning Experiences (RLE) will soon receive financial assistance under the country’s Free College Law following the approval of amendments expanding the measure’s coverage.

The provision was approved during the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 1894 and House Bill No. 8476, which seek to amend Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

Aquino, a co-author of Senate Bill No. 1894 and a member of the bicameral conference committee, said the amendment ensures that students participating in internships and RLE programs will have access to government financial support.

“Under these amendments to our Free College Law, we can now ensure that students undergoing internships and RLE will receive financial assistance,” Aquino said.

The senator noted that many students shoulder administrative and other expenses associated with internships and RLE programs, adding to the financial burden they already face from tuition-related and daily living costs.

He said the measure seeks to ease the financial strain on students and their families, particularly amid rising prices of basic goods and services.

“This is important in reducing the expenses of young people and their families as they complete their academic requirements. It will help ease their burden, especially at a time when the prices of goods remain high,” Aquino added.

The provision also fulfills Aquino’s campaign commitment to institutionalize financial assistance for nursing and allied health sciences students, whose RLE-related expenses can range from P20,000 to P80,000.

Earlier, Aquino secured P500 million under the 2026 national budget to help cover the RLE expenses of allied health sciences students while serving as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

In partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Aquino recently launched an online application portal for the Allied Health Experiential Assistance for Deserving Students (AHEAD) Grant, which was established through CHED Memorandum Order No. 11, Series of 2026.

Under the AHEAD Grant, around 19,000 nursing and allied health sciences students are expected to receive a one-time financial assistance package worth P25,000 to help defray their RLE expenses.

The program covers students enrolled in Nursing, Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy, Speech Language Pathology, Public Health, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine programs.

Aquino expressed hope that the expanded support under the amended Free College Law would provide long-term relief to students pursuing health-related degrees and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent them from completing their education and training requirements.