No fees would be collected by the University of the Philippines (UP) system this semester, the state university announced on Tuesday.
Following the passage of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte last Aug. 3, UP President Danilo Concepcion released new guidelines on tuition and other fees assessment and collection for this school year. The memo, dated Aug. 7, was released on Tuesday.
The said new guidelines were approved by the UP Board of Regents, the highest decision-making body of the university, through a referendum.
According to the memorandum, it implements the spirit of Sections 4 and 6 of RA 10931, which provides for the coverage as well as exceptions to the non-collection of tuition and other school fees.
“All Filipino undergraduate students are qualified except those who already hold an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree, those who fail to meet admission and retention rules, and those who exceed the maximum residency requirement prescribed by the university. Students of medicine and law are also not covered by the provisions,” Concepcion stated in the memorandum.
Given some exceptions, Concepcion cited alternatives available to those not covered by the benefits of the law.
“These students may choose to apply for financial assistance through tuition discounts under the existing Socialized Tuition System of the university or any additional scholarship,” Concepcion said.
Meanwhile, Concepcion suggested that Medicine students avail of a tuition subsidy under the Tulong Medisina program through the Commission on Higher Education-Department of Budget and Management Joint Memorandum Circular 2017-4.
“A voluntary opt-out provision in the law will also be made available to those who wish to contribute to the University by paying their tuition and other school fees,” said Concepcion.
Qualified students, however, would still have to undergo the prescribed registration procedures to avail themselves of the privilege.
“During registration, the tuition and other fees assessment for qualified students shall be set at zero. Those who have already been assessed but have not yet paid shall have their registration forms reassessed in accordance with their unit’ s enrollment process in order to complete their enrollment,” the UP president explained.
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