State colleges warned: Collecting mandatory fees is illegal

State universities ang colleges (SUCs) were warned that collecting mandatory fees from students is prohibited under the Free College Law.

“If there are mandatory fees still being collected by the schools, that is illegal now,” said Senator Bam Aquino, the principal sponsor of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Mag-ingat sila sa kinokolekta nila kasi nasa batas iyan. If it is a mandatory fee, that should not be charged to the students,” he added.

According to Aquino, he has been receiving complaints from students and parents about mandatory fees being collected by SUCs despite the implementation of the free college law.

“Di na ito dapat ginagawa,” he stressed.

Republic Act 10931 provides free tuition and miscellaneous fees to students in SUCs, local universities and colleges (LUCs), and TESDA-run vocational schools.

The law also allows students of both public and private college and universities can also apply for scholarship grants and student loans.

Here is the list of tertiary schools in Western Visayas that are covered by the law:

• Aklan State University

• Capiz State University

• Carlos C. Hilado Memorial State College

• Guimaras State College

• Iloilo State College of Fisheries

• Central Philippines State University

• Northern Iloilo Polytechnic State College

• Northern Negros State College of Science and Technology

• University of Antique

• Iloilo Science and Technology University

• West Visayas State University

• Iloilo City Community College (ICCC)

• Passi City College

• Libacao College of Science and Technology

• Bago City College

SOURCE: Iloilo Metropolitan Times

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