Nais ni  Leyte Representative Martin Romualdez na palawakin ang bisa ng Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act para mabigyan din ng "baon" ang mga mag-aaral dahil hindi umano sapat ang libreng matrikula sa kolehiyo upang makapagtapos sila ng pag-aaral.

Sa isang pahayag nitong Miyerkoles, sinabi ni Romualdez na lumitaw sa Second Congressional Commission on Education, na halos apat sa 10 mag-aaral ang nagda-drop out o tumitigil sa pag-aaral sa kabila ng Free College Law.

“Free tuition was a landmark achievement, but the work is far from over. Nearly four out of 10 students in state universities and colleges are still dropping out. In some regions, the situation is even more alarming,” ayon sa mambabatas.

“These are not just statistics. They are shattered dreams and interrupted futures, often because students cannot afford transportation, food, rent, books or internet. We need to protect and build on the gains of the Free Higher Education Law by ensuring students have the means to actually finish school,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi ni Romualdez na dapat gumawa ng kaukulang hakbang ang pamahalaan para malutas ang pagtigil ng mga estudyante sa pag-aaral. Kabilang sa mga iminungkahi nito ang pagkakaloob ng buwanang allowance sa transportasyon at pagkain, at digital access programs,

“These [additional support] are gaps we must urgently fill if we truly want free higher education to be a ladder out of poverty,” ayon kay Romualdez.

Batay sa isang Pulse Asia survey na ginawa noong January 2024 at kinomisyon ng Senate Committee on Basic Education chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian, walong porsiyento ng mga Pinoy ang suportado ang free tuition sa state-run colleges and universities.

Dahil dito, sinabi ni Romualdez na dapat palawakin ang Free College law na magsisimula sa pagsusuri sa ilalim ng House Resolution 61 na inihain ni Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon.

“We owe it to our students to fund this law properly. We owe it to every Filipino family to give their children a real chance at a better future, and we owe it to the nation to make education a powerful equalizer, not an unfinished promise,” ayon kay Romualdez.— mula sa ulat ni Llanesca T. Panti/FRJ, GMA Integrated News