President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday pledged to further expand the government’s free higher education initiatives to reach more students, framing quality education as a crucial driver for socio-economic mobility.
Speaking at the 58th Commencement Exercises of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, Marcos highlighted existing state programs aimed at keeping tertiary schooling accessible.
Among these is the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA) or Republic Act No. 10931, which waives tuition and fees in public institutions and currently benefits 2.62 million students nationwide.
“This is the true result of education that is more accessible and of high quality, giving every Filipino the opportunity to achieve a better future,” Marcos told the graduating class, emphasizing that a diploma gives workers a fair chance at success and brings families closer to long-term prosperity.
In addition to free tuition, Marcos pointed to financial aid frameworks including the Tertiary Education Subsidy, the Tulong Dunong Program, and the newly launched Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program for high-achieving senior high school graduates pursuing priority degrees.
He also stressed the role of technical-vocational pathways provided through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), ensuring youth can select learning tracks aligned with their career goals.
During the ceremony, PLM conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree (Honoris Causa) upon President Marcos in recognition of his national leadership. The Chief Executive noted that PLM holds personal significance for him, as First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos previously served as a law professor at the university.