SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian announced that Senate Bill 1894, which seeks to amend the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, has reached the Senate plenary for deliberation. ​Under the proposed measure, high school graduates from households under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) would be granted automatic eligibility for the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). The initiative aligns with provisions Gatchalian introduced in the 2024 and 2025 national budgets. ​"As we strengthen free college, we will ensure that truly needy students are prioritized as beneficiaries of TES. We must ensure that their education continues," said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance. ​The bill aims to provide indigent students with direct access to financial support while reinforcing the link between social welfare and education. Additionally, the measure seeks to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the distribution of the TES. ​If enacted, the bill is expected to significantly ease the financial burden on low-income families and strengthen the government’s commitment to inclusive education.