JV Ejercito: I fulfilled my promises to the youth through Free Education Act, SK Reform Law

By: Dennis Gutierrez - 3 years ago

Former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Monday said he has fulfilled most of his advocacies on youth development.

“At least for my youth advocacies, I guess I have fulfilled my promises to the Filipino youth. Dalawang landmark laws ‘yan for the youth: the Free Education Act and the Sangguniang Kabataan Reform Law,” he said in a press briefing in Quezon City.

Republic Act No. 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act was signed into law on August 3, 2017.

The law made college education free for underprivileged students studying in the country’s state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), and state-run technical-vocational institutions.

Upon its passage, around 1.6 million undergraduate students from 112 SUCs and 121 local universities and colleges across the archipelago were expected to benefit immediately from the measure.

“Bawat state universities and colleges, lahat po ng mag-aaral diyan, libre na po ang tuition diyan. That’s already being implemented,” Ejercito said.

Former Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito

Meanwhile, Republic Act No. 10742 or the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Reform Act was signed on January 15, 2016.

The measure introduced a package of reforms that sought to strengthen the SK, such as prohibitions on youth candidates belonging to political dynasties, the creation of local youth development councils, and the granting of fiscal autonomy to all barangay youth councils.

Citing his own experiences as a youth leader in his hometown San Juan, Ejercito said he defended the SK Reform Law to ensure the continuation of youth development programs at the barangay level.

“There was a strong clamor for the abolition of the SK before kasi naging breeding ground for corruption and traditional politics. Well, that might be true. But I told myself, kung mawawala ‘yan, lalong mawawalan ng programa pang-kabataan,” he said.

The former senator said the SK Reform Law was a rare effort that involved lawmakers from different camps.

“Kami po ni Senator Bam Aquino ang author niyan. Si Senator Marcos po ang chairman ng Committee on Local Government. So, naging author na rin po siya. It’s a collaboration between an Ejercito, an Aquino, and a Marcos. At least sa isang batas, nagkasama-sama man lang,” Ejercito said.