The delivery of free higher education in the Philippines remains on track through the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) said Monday.

This comes after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the recommendations of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to augment the CHED’s funding for the continuous delivery of free higher education in local colleges and universities (LUCs), in line with the implementation of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Consistent with this administration’s assurance to continue the Free Higher Education program, CHED, through the UniFAST, remains on track in delivering its commitment to accessible and equitable higher education for all Filipinos,” CHED Chairperson J. Prospero de Vera III said in a statement.

In particular, more than PHP577.12 million augmented fund was approved to cover tuition and school fees of tertiary level students in LUCs, on top of the PHP5.2 billion free higher education budget under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

De Vera, meanwhile, thanked President Marcos and the DBM for their continuous support in advancing free and quality higher education in the country.

“This is a testament that the national government considers higher education as a priority and is committed to ensuring the continuous delivery of free tertiary education,” de Vera said.

The UniFAST, meanwhile, assured immediate disbursement for timely reimbursement to CHED-accredited LUCs.

“Disbursement is after (the) Holy Week. Matagal na naka-ready papers niyan (Necessary papers have already been prepared way earlier),” UniFAST Executive Director Ryan Estevez told the Philippine News Agency in a Viber message. (PNA)