Duterte committed to implement free tuition law, says Budget chief

President Rodrigo Duterte is bent on implementing the law on free tuition for students in state colleges and university, even if the administration is uncertain at this point where to get the funds, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Wednesday.

"The President is committed to implement it ... first semester of next year, with or without money. So we will look for it, one way or another," Diokno told reporters in a briefing in Pasig City.

"We can cut other agencies' budget or submit a supplemental budget," he added.

Duterte earlier admitted he signed Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act despite knowing there are no immediate funds available to cover to cost of implementing the law.

The Department of Budget and Management estimated the free tuition law will cost around P51 billion in the first year of implementation and P70 billion in its fourth year, Diokno said.

"I'm confident we can source it from the 2018 budget. We have identified sources but we need the approval of the Congress," the Cabinet official said.

RA 10931 covers eight state universities and colleges in Metro Manila, 49 in the rest of Luzon, 26 in the Visayas, and 29 in Mindanao. Accredited universities and colleges and technical vocational institutions run by the Technical Education Skills Development Authority are also covered by the law.

The law exempts students enrolled starting 2018 onwards from paying tuition, miscellaneous fees, and other school fees. — VDS, GMA News