Senator Bam Aquino welcomed the official enactment of landmark amendments to the country’s Libreng Kolehiyo program, highlighting new provisions designed to ease the financial burden on students in health and allied fields.
The enactment comes following the ceremonial signing of Republic Act No. 12325, or the Act Enhancing the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, at Malacañang Palace. The new law amends Republic Act No. 10931, the foundational free tertiary education law that Aquino championed as its principal sponsor in 2017.
Among the key updates in the expanded law is the inclusion of financial assistance for internship programs and Related Learning Experience (RLE) expenses.
“Iyong mga amendments sa Republic Act 10931… maganda po ito. Unang-una, masisigurado na iyong mga kabataan na talagang nangangailangan ay makakuha ng tulong,” Aquino said following the signing ceremony.
During the bicameral conference committee, Aquino pushed for the integration of RLE subsidies, fulfilling a key campaign commitment to support students taking up nursing and allied health sciences. RLE expenses, which cover mandatory clinical training and practical experience, typically range from P20,000 to P80,000 per student, often forcing financially struggling learners to drop out.
“Ito’y katuparan ng ating pangako noong kampanya na isusulong ang tulong pinansiyal para sa RLE ng nursing at allied health sciences students,” Aquino noted, adding that the relief will ease the load on families dealing with rising living costs.
To jumpstart support for the initiative, Aquino previously secured P500 million under the 2026 national budget through the Allied Health Experiential Assistance for Deserving Students (AHEAD) Grant. The program provides a one-time grant of P25,000 to approximately 19,000 qualified health students to help offset their practical training fees.
More than five million students have benefited from the free tertiary education program since its rollot in 2018.