Education has lasting impact among PRRD legacies- Gov. Uy

File photo of the President witnessing the MOA between CHED and 200 public higher education institutions in implementing RA 10931. 

DAVAO CITY--- The benefits of Education may not directly be seen but education has lasting impact in the lives of every Filipino family as it  bridges one to greater opportunities in life, said Davao de Oro Provincial Governor Jayvee Tyrone Uy.

Leading the  panel of guests during the  Pamana ng Pagbabago online information forum (InForum), Governor Uy viewed the free  tertiary education program of President Rodrigo Duterte as a legacy which could have significant impact in terms of creating meaningful changes in the lives of Filipinos.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed in 2017, the Republic Act 10931 otherwise known as “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act”, providing free higher education, free technical vocational education and training. RA 10931 also provides tertiary education subsidy and student loan program.

 Citing the Davao de Oro State College,  Uy revealed that more than 10,000 students have benefitted from free tertiary education since it was implemented in that state college.

 “So in line with that, nakatabang gyud pud na especially sa atong mga kabatan-unan nga dugay na nangandoy ana (it has been  of immense help especially for the youth who have long been aspiring for such),” he said referring to access to tertiary education which he noted as point of criticism of progressive groups against the national government.

During the same Pamana ng  Pagbabago InForum organized by the Philippine Information Agency XI with  the Provincial Information Office of Davao de Oro, Uy also pointed out the need to raise the level of literacy among constituents to achieve a  balance of the desired economic development.

The public has been aware of the publicized war-on-drugs, the focus on peace and order thru Executive Order No. 70, and the visible infra development thru  the Build, Build, Build Program.

 “…but wala lang kaayo ma-highlight ang education, especially free tertiary education; dako kaayo ug impact ug mabati gyud namo diri sa Davao de Oro (But the education has not been much highlighted especially the free tertiary education, which really has significant impact, and that we have felt it  here in Davao de Oro),” he said.

 Uy  viewed education as a vehicle through which, he said, individuals and their family can ride out poverty to qualify for loftier opportunities in life and to venture paths  of life-long learning.

 "This is a thing that we cannot see physically; these are the intangibles sa Duterte administration na mabati jud sa mga tagsa tagsa ka pamilya.  (… intangibles in the Duterte Administration that can really be felt by every family), he said.

 Uy also said free access to education is seen most beneficial to indigenous peoples (IPs)  found vulnerable to communist-terrorist groups underground movement recruitment in exchange for a promise of benefits for their family members.

Unlike the other development thrusts of President Duterte that brings forth immediate and tangible results, Uy said the impact of education can be seen most often in  10 years, though it can be felt by individuals and families benefitting from the universal access to tertiary education. (Jeanevive Duron-Abangan, PIA XI)