The Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act, or UniFAST — also known as Republic Act No. 10687 — was signed into law in 15 October last year.The Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act, or UniFAST — also known as Republic Act No. 10687 — was signed into law in 15 October last year.UniFAST reconciles, improves, strengthens, expands, and puts under one body all government-funded modalities of Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) for tertiary education – and special purpose education assistance – in both public and private institutions. These modalities include scholarships, grants-in-aid, student loans and other specialized forms of StuFAPs formulated by the UniFAST Board.

UNIFAST is opening another set of scholarship open for 2022, including TES or the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program. Find out more about the TES below:

What is the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)?

The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is a program of RA 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act) signed and executed by former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte as one of his Priority Legislative Agenda on August 3, 2017. The program includes Free Higher Education, Free Tech-Voc Education and Training, and the Student Loan Program.

Benefits of the UNIFAST Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)

A qualified grantee will receive the following:

LUCs LGU-run TVIs, SUCs, and TESDA TTIs:

• Up to Php 40,000 per academic year for education related expenses, including rental or purchase of computer, books and supplies, transportation, lodging and board expenses.

Private TVIs and HEIs:

The following benefits are entitled to students enrolled in private HEIs and TVIs (Sections 23 and 24. IRR of RA 10931):

• Up to Php 20,000 per academic year for tuition and other school fees
• Up to Up to Php 40,000 per academic year for education related expenses, including rental or purchase of computer, books and supplies, transportation, lodging and board expenses.

What are the qualifications?

• Filipino citizen
• Qualified for admission and retention requirements of your Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and have yet to exceed their Maximum Residency Policy or Maximum Residency Rule (MRR)
• Have not been expelled from any HEIs
• Enrolled in any SUCs, CHED-recognized LUCs, and programs of private schools that are in the CHED Registry
• Qualified under any future policies that the UniFAST Board will implement

Who can avail of TES?

The following individuals are the TES’s prioritized beneficiaries:

• Current TES grantee and ESGPPA beneficiarry
• Students part of DSWD-National Household Targeting Office’s Listahan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per capita household income
• Students not part of Listahan 2.0 and ranked according to estimated per capital household based on proof of income documents required by the UniFAST Board

Such prioritization shall not apply to Filipino students in cities and municipalities with no existing SUC or LUC campus.

How to apply for TES?

For new applicants, these are the following process:

1. After you enroll, talk to the TES Focal Person of your school about the process of applying in the TES Portal.
2. The TES Focal Person will submit the information of the TES applicants into the TES Portal.
3. There will be a Nationwide Assessment (name-matching, verification, validation, ranking) by UniFAST using school data.
4. The TES Portal of your HEI can view the resulting list of qualified grantees.
5. The school will let you know if you have been included in the list of eligible grantees; you can then submit your Documentary Requirements.
6. The school will submit your Certified Documentary Requirements to the CHED Regional Offices for verification and validation.
7. After verification, the UniFAST Board will approve the Masterlist of qualified grantees, which will be given to the schools.
8. The school will receive the funds to distribute grants to the TES beneficiaries.

What are the requirements?

The following are the documentary requirement for the old and new grantees that qualify for the nationwide TES assessment:

• Certification of Registration or Enrollment
• Assessment of Fees
• Certificate of Residency (if applicable)
• Photocopy of PWD ID (if applicable)

Are there any additional benefits available to TES beneficiaries who are PWDs?

Yes. Additional funding of up to Php 30,000 will be provided to PWD students to help with expenses such as special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and legitimately incurred supplies. (RA 10931, Section 23-d IRR)

In a program requiring a professional license or certification, are there additional benefits for TES beneficiaries?

Yes. Students enrolled in programs requiring a professional license or certification will be given up to Php 10,000, the one-time cost of receiving the first professional credentials or qualifications, including notarial fees, review classes fees, insurance premium fees and documentation fees. (Section 23-e IRR of RA 10931)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Courses/Program available for TES Grantees:

For Higher Education:

• Undergraduate course/program in any Board-approved SUC campus;
• Undergraduate courses with Certificates of Program Compliance (COPCs) in CHED-recognized LUCs; and
• Undergraduate courses with Government Recognition in private institutions listed in the UniFAST Registry of Quality-Assured Institutions and Programs

Beneficiaries will provide the grant amount while enrolled in higher education programs for the whole academic year, subject to yearly renewal depending on their ongoing educational progress.

For TVET:

• TVET program with Certificate of Program Registration (CoPR) and officially listed in the TESDA Compendium of Registered Programs in any public or private technical-vocational institution (TVI)

Beneficiaries enrolled in TVET programs will enjoy a full-year grant amount or the amount equivalent to the recommended program completion period, whichever is shorter. (Section 24-c of RA 10931)

Who are not eligible for TES benefits (Section 28. IRR of RA 10931)?

For Higher Education:

• Students enrolled in programs and/or institutions not included in the Registry of CHED-recognized programs and institutions.
• Students who have exceeded their program’s Maximum Residency Rule (MRR) limit.

For TVET:

• Learners enrolled in TVET programs, not in the Registry of TESDA.
• Learners enrolled in TESDA-registered programs in any TVI who availed of government-funded StuFAPS other than Free TVET.

 

For more information, please contact:

Katherine Parto, Focal Person

NCMC Scholarship Coordinator