The imminent approval of the amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) will be a meaningful step forward for Filipino students and their families, as it is expected to bring them closer to a higher education system that prioritizes those who have less in life and provides greater support to those who struggle to stay in school, Tingog Party-list Representative Jude Acidre said.
Acidre, who served as commencement speaker at Western Philippines University, said that with the Senate’s ratification of the UAQTEA Bicameral Conference Committee report, quick and equitable assistance to students who need it must immediately follow for the reforms to become effective.
He noted that while higher education is already being offered for free, students still face other challenges, including expenses for transportation, food, lodging, and learning materials.
“This is why access must mean more than admission. It must mean giving students a real chance to stay, continue, and graduate. A student who enters college should also have the support needed to finish the journey,” Acidre said.
He explained that the amendments to the UAQTEA will serve as a response mechanism by making government support more targeted, equitable, and responsive.
“It strengthens assistance for poor and vulnerable learners, including qualified students from low-income households, and helps ensure that public funds reach those who face the greatest risk of being left behind,” he said.
“At the same time, this reform must be matched by stronger accountability. Every peso must go where it can make the greatest difference. Every qualified student must have a fair chance. Every agency involved must be ready to do its part,” he added.
However, he noted that once enacted, the law must be taken seriously, with oversight remaining consistent and the government’s commitment firm in ensuring that no poor learner is left behind.
“Education remains one of the most powerful ways to break poverty and build a better future. With these amendments, we take another step toward making that promise more real for Filipino families,” he said.
Meanwhile, Acidre, who chairs the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, urged WPU graduates to use their education not only to improve their own lives but also to help open doors of opportunity for others.
He said graduation is more than a milestone; it is also a call to responsibility for those whose education will help shape the future of their families, their province, and the country.
“Huwag lamang ninyong itanong, ‘Hanggang saan ako makararating?’ Itanong din ninyo, ‘Sino ang maaari kong paglingkuran at matulungan?’” Acidre said.
He also acknowledged WPU’s role not only in producing graduates who can succeed in their chosen fields but also in preparing young people who can pursue progress that protects life, respects Palawan’s people and culture, and safeguards the natural resources that sustain the province.
He likewise noted that education policy must always be measured by how it changes lives, citing the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act, which recognizes learning gained through work and life experience; the Expanded Career Progression for Public School Teachers Act, which provides better career pathways for teachers; and the amendments to the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which seek to strengthen support for students from families most in need.
“Ang mga hakbang para sa edukasyon ay hindi lamang tungkol sa mga batas, salaping gugulin, o gawaing ipatutupad. Ang mga ito ay may tuwirang bunga sa buhay ng mga tao,” he said.
