Starting this October, students of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela (PLV) and Valenzuela Polytechnic College (ValPoly) will enjoy a full tuition fee subsidy once the Valenzuela City Free Higher Education Ordinance is passed.

Last September 3, more than 6,000 parents and students from the local university and college were invited to a public hearing at the Valenzuela City Astrodome for the Proposed Ordinance No. 2016-011 or the passage of the Ordinance Providing for Full Tuition Subsidy in Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Valenzuela and Valenzuela Polytechnic College. This ordinance will grant all the current and future students of the academic institutions a full tuition fee subsidy and miscellaneous fees including the school ID, library fee, medical fee, newsletter, handbook, laboratory fee, sports fee, multimedia fee and guidance and counseling fee.

Every year, each student should pay Php 20,000.00 each semester for the tuition and miscellaneous fees. The local government’s current subsidy for PLV and ValPoly amounts to Php 17,500.00, while the remaining Php 2,500.00 is shouldered by the students. The city government is expected to shoulder Php 240M annually for the tuition fee subsidy.

Under the new proposed ordinance, students will no longer have to pay for their tertiary education in the city. However, student beneficiaries of the full tuition subsidy should fully satisfy their academic obligations. One of these obligations is their participation in the City Government of Valenzuela’s Education 360 degrees Investment Program including but not limited to the Summer Reading Camp and being a mentor for the 3,000 Out-of-School Youth Valenzuelanos in the Alternative Learning System.

Mayor REX Gatchalian commended the City Council for their initiative in passing the ordinance. According to the local chief executive, the purpose of the ordinance is not just to free the tuition fees of the students, but also to give every Valenzuelano youth a brighter and better future. “Maliban sa free tuition fee, ang mas mahalaga nating dapat isipin ay ang ating magiging kontribusyon para maiahon natin sa kahirapan ang iba pang kabataang Valenzuelano na nahihirapan o hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na atensiyon pagdating sa edukasyon”, Mayor REX added.

Speaking in front of students and parents at the Valenzuela Astrodome during the public hearing of the Free Higher Education Ordinance, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian believes that education is the most effective way to curb poverty. “Sa mga programang pang edukasyon na ipinatutupad sa ating lungsod, tayo po ay namumuhunan para sa kinabukasan ng hindi lang para sa inyong mga anak, hindi lang ng Valenzuela, kung hindi para sa buong Pilipinas”. Sen. Win said. As a Congressman, Sen. Win authored the Free Higher Education Act which seeks to provide a full tuition subsidy for all current and future enrollees in state universities and colleges (SUCs).

Most Modern Public University

In response to the growing number of students and the demand for a more equipped learning facilities, Mayor REX highlighted the construction of the new PLV campus at Barangay Maysan. The construction of the 1.6 hectare-campus is expected to finish before the year ends and will be fully operational early next year. The new fully-wired PLV campus consists of three modern building facilities with hi-tech amenities and computer and engineering laboratories. Aside from the new smart IDs to be implemented next year, the students can also access their academic records and class schedule through online transactions.