Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has urged the Commission on Higher Education to ensure sure all 300,000 slots for the Tertiary Education Subsidy under the Free Higher Education Law are filled up before closing applications.
“I hope CHED would ensure that all the 300,000 slots for TES are filled before they close the application period. The P16-billion TES budget will be wasted if it will not be used,” Gatchalian said.
The lawmaker issued the statement after CHED extended its deadline for TES applications to Oct. 30 after only receiving some 174,000 applications.
“If all the slots will not be filled up by October 30, I hope CHED will extend it again until the 300,000 are completed,” he said.
Gatchalian likewise called on schools to intensify their information drive on the qualifications, requirements, and benefits of the TES so that more students would apply.
The TES is separate from the free tuition scheme of state and local universities and colleges. It is designed to support the cost of tertiary education by providing allowances for books, transportation, boarding, and supplies, among others.