Free tuition, internet access awaiting Duterte’s signature — Bam

The bill that will provide free tuition and fees to students of state colleges and universities like the University of the Philippines (above) is only awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte, said Sen. Bam Aquino. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Bam Aquino on Monday strongly supported the passage of bills that would grant free tuition in state universities and colleges and give free internet access to national and local government offices, schools, public transport terminals, hospitals and libraries.

The free college tuition bill was authored by Aquino with senators Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara and Loren Legarda.

Pangilinan authored the free internet access bill with Aquino.

The proposed Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which will provide free education in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and local universities and colleges (LUCs), was passed unanimously by the Senate during his short stint as committee on education chair.

If enacted into law, Aquino said, the measure will institutionalize free tuition and other fees in SUCs and LUCs all over the country.

“Kapag naisabatas, napakalaki ang maitutulong ng panukalang ito upang mabigyan ang mas maraming Pilipino ng pagkakataong makatapos ng kolehiyo,” he said in a statement.

As chair of the Senate committee on science and technology, Aquino also led the passage of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act.

“We hope that this can be a step towards improving internet services in the Philippines, which, of course has become a main point for many of our countrymen,” said the senator.

The measure, he said, will also provide internet access in all national and local government offices, public schools, public transport terminals, public hospitals and public libraries.

Under the bill, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) will be mandated to craft a plan and a timeline for the program’s implementation. CBB/rga