Solons laud Duterte for approving free tuition for state colleges, universities

Lawmakers from the House of Representatives on Friday lauded President Rodrigo Duterte for signing into law the bill granting free tuition for state universities and colleges, while noting that there is still a long way to go.

In a statement, Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Carlos Zarate welcomed the signing of the bill and commended Duterte for not heeding the recommendation of his economic managers.

"We laud President Duterte for heeding the call of the people rather than the anti-people recommendations of his neoliberal economic managers," Zarate said.

The lawmaker said Congress should immediately set the budget for the law so that students can already benefit from it.

"The victory of the people though is yet to be completed and we are now calling on leaders and members of Congress to immediately set a budget for the measure so that the youth and students of our country would now benefit from it," he said.

"We are also calling on the administration of state colleges and universities especially UP [University of the Philippines] to now stop collecting tuition and allow their students to enroll because the funds are already allotted for that purpose," he added.

For her part, Kabataan Party-list Representative Sarah Elago called the signing of the bill into law "a victory for future generations." 

"The passage of the Free Tuition Law is an initial victory not only for the youth today but also for future generations," Elago said.

The youth solon hopes that the signing of the free tuition law will also put an end to the socialized tuition scheme "that continue[s] to burden students in the name of profit."

"We should also push not only for universal access but on quality of education. Let us spur the movement for genuine nationalist, scientific, and mass-oriented type of education," she added.

Valenzuela City Representative Wes Gatchalian joined Elago in calling the move "a victory of the people."

"With this single mechanical act, he has turned years of what once were unfulfilled dreams into the tangible reality of having a college education," he said.

"This is our victory as a people for together we worked to hold true to our hope na sa kabataan ang pag-asa ng bayan!" he added.

For AANGAT TAYO Party-list Representative Neil Abayon, the signing of the bill into law should encourage students to invest in their education.

"The millennials are the future of our country. Now is the time to invest heavily in their college education," he said.

Funds, overhaul of education system

ACT Teachers Party-list Representative Antonio Tinio, for his part, stressed that the law should be well funded in order to maximize its benefits. 

"Since the House deliberation on the 2018 national budget is still in its preliminary stage, we call on the Executive, through the DBM [Department of Budget and Management], to submit a revised budget that provides for the initial implementation of the new law," he said.

Kabayan Party-list Representative Harry Roque, meanwhile, proposed the "overhaul" of the basic educational system in order for the poor to get a better chance at entering public higher educational institutions.

"I also pray that the signing of this law will serve as an impetus for the passage of other bills that foster other basic human rights enshrined in our Constitution, including the right to health and the right to adequate food," he added.

Anakpawis Party-list Representative Ariel Casilao echoed Roque's sentiments.

“We are urging President Duterte to continue this path of pro-people measures. Anakpawis would like to see the President to also support other measures that will benefit the people like House Bill 555 Or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill that gives free land to farmers, ending any forms of contractualization and pursue just and lasting peace through the continuation of the peace talks," Casilao said.

For his part, ACTS OFW Party-list Representative John Bertiz said the signing of the bill into law is manifestation that the administration puts premium in education, and not just on the campaign against illegal drugs.

"He [Duterte] definitely knows that education must be given top priority as enshrined in the 1987 Constitution, not just in policy but in actual implementation," he said.

"The free college education shall prepare and equip the next generation of Filipinos with necessary skills and knowledge that will place them in the forefront of the highly competitive world market," he added.

Duterte as role model?

But for Akbayan Party-list Reprsentative Tom Villarin, while the President is to be lauded for the move, it does not make him a model for the youth.

"President Duterte's move, however, does not make him a role model for the youth. It does not exculpate him from his wrongful acts of promoting a culture of violence, mass murder, and misogyny. The youth should continue to unmask his double-face populist posturing," Villarin said.

Magdalo Party-list Representative Gary Alejano, nevertheless, urged Duterte to become a person that the youth will look up to.

"While we invest for the education of our youth, we also urge the President to serve as a model to them and inculcate in them the Filipino values of decency, integrity, hospitality, patriotism, love of family, love of God, and respect to right to life," he said. —KG, GMA News