Students in state universities and colleges (SUC) and in accredited local government unit-managed tertiary institutions will continue to enjoy free tuition for academic year (AY) 2019 to 2020.

This as Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) officer-in-charge Prospero de Vera III belied reports Tuesday on alleged massive cuts for higher education in the proposed 2019 national budget.

De Vera assured the public the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (RA 10931) will be fully funded next year as free education is a cornerstone of the Duterte administration’s pro-people programs.

He said the government allocated P51 billion for the free higher education program for AY 2019-2020, an increase of P11 billion compared to the allocation for the same purpose for AY 2018-2019.

The government will also shoulder the miscellaneous and other school-related fees of the so called iskolars ng bayan (nation’s scholars), the CHEd official said.

De Vera’s pronouncement is expected to be greeted with jubilation by students in 112 SUC and 78 CHEd-recognized local universities and colleges (LUC).

As in AY 2018-2019, the fund will also be used in the implementation of the Tertiary Education Subsidy and National Student Loan Program.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority will directly receive in 2019 the P7 billion budget for free technical-vocational education and training.

A total of P8 billion was realigned to CHEd in 2017 for the implementation of the free tuition in the 112 SUC, benefitting 900,000 students. For 2018, 1.3 million college students benefited with the implementation of RA 10931.