Senator Bam Aquino is pushing for an increase in the government’s budget allocation for free education, emphasizing the need to further strengthen the program that has helped millions of Filipino students pursue their dreams.
In a social media post on Monday, October 6, Aquino cited the budget cuts for free education in 2025, expressing his commitment to restore and even expand the funding this year.
“Pataasin ang pondo para sa libreng kolehiyo!” Aquino wrote.
“Noong 2025, nabawasan ang pondo para sa edukasyon — pero ngayong taon, sisiguraduhin nating maibabalik at madadagdagan ito.”
The senator underscored that free college education is not just a government initiative but a shared dream of every Filipino family aspiring for a better life.
“Dahil ang libreng kolehiyo ay hindi lang programa, kundi pangarap ng bawat kabataang Pilipino at kanilang pamilya na dapat nating ipaglaban,” he said.
“Mas malaking pondo. Mas maraming matutulungan. Mas maliwanag na kinabukasan,” Aquino added.
Known as the “Father of Free College Education” for authoring the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017, Aquino reclaimed a Senate seat in the 2025 midterm elections, running under a platform that promised free college education with guaranteed employment opportunities.