On the peace process/Free tuition not forever

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana delivered an excellent speech on the role of the Philippine military establishment in helping win the peace in Mindanao in a meeting of the Philippine Constitution Association (PHILCONSA) where he was the honored guest and speaker.

During the open forum following his speech, he acknowledged the sense of the views expressed by Saeed A. Daof, vice president for Mindanao and chairman of the peace and development committee of PHILCONSA, that indeed the Philippine military plays a crucial role in providing assistance and cooperation toward the implementation of post-conflict plans and programs to be prepared by the civilian government.

In a private conversation with friends, Daof said, “I am a Muslim, not a military person, but I firmly believe that our military establishment is a major deterrent to persons and organizations advocating secession or decapitation of our country – either covertly or overtly. The Marawi upheaval is a grim example of what I wish to say.” 

 Daof also added, “In my observation, President Duterte “decides with the heart and mind like the Rock of Gibraltar, and therefore the signing and or approval of the BBL or the GPH-MILF peace agreement will come in a matter of time. Let us accept the fact however that a peace agreement is merely a guide or a direction on what to do on the ground level of our society as agreed upon during the peace negotiation that took about two decades to complete. Hence it is not pessimism on my part, but rather realism, to exercise due diligence in ensuring the continuity and successful post-conflict peace transformation in our country where the military establishment is needed to assist and cooperate in augmenting the management capabilities of local civilian administrations.”

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My column last Thursday was on the free college tuition for students at state colleges and universities and local schools, authored by Sen. Bam Aquino. The law, RA 10931, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. Some sectors have misgivings about the law: Will all students be allowed to enroll, should they not take admission/entrance tests in such schools?

I’ve read a press statement from Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, a co-author of RA 10931, explaining that the law is “not forever.”

Recto says there are stringent conditions for the enjoyment of free Matriculation.

“Walang forever na student sa batas na ito,” Senator Recto said.

“Those who are magnas (italicized) or magna na-nine years na sa isang kurso, hindi pwede mag-avail ng free tuition,” Recto said.

The law even sets a “one-strike rule” for public technological-vocational students, Recto said.

Under Section 6 of RA 10931, a student in a state-run technical vocational institute (TVI) loses the privilege if he fails “in any course.”

For students in national government-run state universities and colleges (SUC) and local government-funded local universities and colleges (LUCs), they must finish the course “within a year after the period prescribed in their program,” Recto said, quoting the law.

“So kung four-year course, may elbow room pa na isang taon, subject to the situations which can be invoked by the students, and if an extension is granted, conditions will apply,” Recto said.

“This means a student must maintain good academic standing at all times,” he said.

Recto said students who have already attained a bachelor’s degree or comparable undergraduate degree from any higher education institution, whether public or private, are also barred from the program.

“The same exclusion rule applies to students of state TVIs. Those who have received a certificate or diploma for a tech-voc course equivalent to at least National Certificate III and above can no longer qualify for free tuition,” Recto explained.

But most important, Recto said, is that before a student can avail of free tuition, he must pass the test and admission requirements imposed by the government school.   

“One must hurdle the qualifying exam, among others in the acceptance checklist. Free tuition should not be loosely interpreted as free to all,” Recto said.

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Congratulations to foreign affairs committee chairperson and Bulacan’s 4th Congressional District Representative Linabelle Ruth Villarica who was recently sworn in by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez  as Deputy Speaker for Central Luzon.

It was with no surprise that Villarica, who has been a two-termer president of the CLB, secured her colleagues’ solid vote for the second highest official position in the House. Serving her third term in the House, she feels that her appointment is an “unexpected gift” at this phase in her life. She continues as president of the Association of Women Legislators Foundation Inc. consisting of the 88 lady solons in the 17th Congress.

Representative Villarica beamed throughout her swearing in ceremony, in the presence of witnesses led by her husband, Meycauayan City Mayor Henry Villarica, and children Henry Lester Villarica and Atty. Hailey Villarica-Ong and husband Jevon Ong, as well as solons from the Central Luzon Bloc (CLB) of the House and House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.

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My sincerest congratulations to Miguel Luis Gacutan-Ochosa who graduated on top of his 12th grade class at The Beacon Academy, an international school in Biñan, Laguna.

Miguel was the recipient of the Virtus Et Ars Award, a distinction given to the graduating senior who best embodies the ideals, values and virtues of the academy, and for outstanding achievement in all areas of school life. He also received the Faculty Prize for academic excellence and citizenship award.

Miguel is now a freshman at the Yale-NUS College, Asia’s leading liberal arts and sciences college situated in Singapore. Yale-NUS is a collaboration between Yale University and National University of Singapore. This year, Yale-NUS College accepted 248 students out of 8,773 applicants to comprise Class of 2021.

Miguel is the grandson of my good friends PHILCONSA secretary general and former Senate secretary Hezel Gacutan and Court of Appeals Justice Angelia Gacutan (Ret.).

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