By: Delaila Irma T. Calindas, Project Technical Staff II

As part of its continuing information and advocacy efforts, the Commission on Higher Education – Cordillera Administrative Region (CHED‑CAR), through its UniFAST Unit, successfully conducted the first session of UAQTEA Time for the 2026 series on April 17, 2026, in partnership with Kalinga State University (KSU). The program was aired via KSU Online Radio, continuing the initiative’s commitment to strengthening public awareness of government higher education assistance programs.

The episode focused on updates regarding the implementation of programs under the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), particularly the Free Higher Education (FHE), Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), and Tulong Dunong Program (TDP). The session was hosted by Ms. Mary June Wacas and featured resource speakers Dr. Bernadette C. Pal‑ec, Education Supervisor II and UniFAST Unit Head of CHED‑CAR; Ms. Jezeny O. Laoyan, Lead Regional Coordinator of the UniFAST Unit; and Mr. Bernardo Ganotice IV, UniFAST Focal Person of Kalinga State University.

During the discussion, Mr. Ganotice highlighted the significant impact of the Free Higher Education Program on KSU’s enrollment. He emphasized that the sustained increase in student enrollment reflects the program’s effectiveness in expanding access to tertiary education for more Cordilleran youth.

Ms. Laoyan, meanwhile, shared that the number of beneficiaries under the TES and TDP in the region has also grown considerably. She underscored the UniFAST Unit’s continuous efforts in monitoring graduate performance, particularly in licensure examinations. She further noted that beginning this year, the unit will strengthen its tracer initiatives to assess the long‑term impact of UAQTEA programs, including their contribution to the economic improvement of beneficiaries and their families.

Dr. Pal‑ec discussed recent developments in program implementation within the region, highlighting the strengthened partnership among CHED, UniFAST, and LANDBANK. She announced that starting Academic Year 2026–2027, all TES and TDP beneficiaries will receive their stipends directly through their LANDBANK accounts. In line with this transition, the Regional Office, in coordination with LANDBANK and participating higher education institutions, has intensified information dissemination and student guidance campaigns to ensure the smooth opening of LANDBANK accounts among grantees.

At KSU, Mr. Ganotice reported that 3,113 student‑grantees have already successfully opened their LANDBANK accounts, with only 283 remaining to complete the process. He noted that the transition has been relatively smooth, as the university has been disbursing stipends through LANDBANK deposits in previous years.

The episode also featured a beneficiary story, with Ms. Jenny Claire Maglia Fontanilla, a graduating Bachelor of Public Administration student and TES beneficiary of KSU. She shared her gratitude for the program, emphasizing how TES helped ease her financial burden as a self‑supporting student since her Senior High School years. Ms. Fontanilla also recounted her experience as a Project MARITES Batch 2025 completer, which enhanced her entrepreneurial skills and supported her management of a small food business in their barangay.

UAQTEA Time is a regional initiative of the UniFAST Unit that partners with radio stations across the Cordillera to raise public awareness of UAQTEA programs and other government higher education support mechanisms. The program also serves as a platform for sharing inspiring stories of student‑grantees whose lives have been positively transformed through accessible and quality tertiary education.