The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI clarifies that beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who wish to enroll in colleges in the region and avail the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) must apply at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) through their respective schools and must qualify for the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).

The Field Office has received reports from concerned citizens that there are state colleges and universities allegedly offering free full tuition fees to aspiring tertiary students included in the 4Ps.

DSWD Field Office VI explained that being a 4Ps beneficiary does not automatically qualify the student for TES.  There is a UniFAST Board that selects qualified students for the educational subsidy.

Qualified students under the TES prioritization program are the following:

• Continuing Expanded Students Grant-in Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGPPA) grantees;
• Students who are part of households included in the Listahanan 2.0 ranked according to the estimated per capita household income; and
• Students who are not part of the Listahanan 2.0 ranked according to estimate per capita household income based on submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board.

TES is a program under the Free Education Law or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017 (RA 10931) which provides financial assistance to poor but deserving students in tertiary education. For inquiries, DSWD Field Office VI may be reached through the mobile numbers 09068826183 or 09468828919.

On the other hand, additional information on TES can be found through the CHED website, www.ched.gov.ph or through the official UniFAST Facebook page www.facebook. com/unifastofficial. -30-