The Student Affairs and Services (SAS) unit of DMMMSU Open University System (DOUS) aired its first episode of eOpenU iScool, the flagship e-SAS program for student support and development of DOUS, live through the DOUS Facebook Page at 9:00 AM on September 10, 2020. This e-SAS program was developed as a mechanism to ensure the continuity of student activities in the midst of the present academic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dubbed “Angat ang May Alam”, the event was organized to serve as the platform to inform DOUS stakeholders and the general public of the government’s Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAP) administered under Republic Act No. 10687 or the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act (UniFAST). Co-hosted by Dr. Meljo Z. Apilado, the DOUS SAS Head; and Dr. Jonald F. Carrera, the DOUS Administrative Officer, the maiden episode of eOpenU iScool featured Ms. Alexis Moira Dolores, Commission on Higher Education Regional Office 1 (CHED RO1) UniFAST Coordinator, as guest.
During the discussion, Ms. Dolores explained the meaning, importance, and benefits granted to students by UniFAST. She also pointed out that UniFAST is now the harmonized state-administered system of higher education and technical-vocational scholarships, grants-in-aid, student loans, and other modalities of financial assistance provided by the government resulting from the passage of Republic Act No. 10931 (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act) in 2017.
Under RA 10931, four programs are administered by UniFAST – Free Higher Education (FHE) in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), Free Tech-Voc Education and Training (FTVET) in any Technical-Vocational school registered with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) which is the grants-in-aid for qualified indigent students in public and private educational institutions, and the Student Loan Program for Tertiary Education (SLPTE).
The Free Higher Education Program enables eligible Filipino students enrolled in government-run universities and colleges (SUC or LUC) to earn degrees without having to pay tuition and other school fees. Qualified students in public and private institutions can also apply for Tertiary Education Subsidy to cover for books and other educational expenses.
Moreover, students who need additional financial support can also apply for a short-term loan administered by their school which should be listed in the CHED Registry of Institutions qualified to run the loan program.
It must be noted, however, that bachelor’s degree holders and those who do not meet the admission requirements or retention policy of SUCs or LUCs cannot avail of these financial benefits under the law. For more information about UniFAST and the programs under it, visit https://unifast.gov.ph/ .
The first episode of eOpenU iScool can be viewed at https://www.facebook.com/DMMMSUopenuniversity/videos/332462961432433/ and the launching of the eOpenU iScool e-SAS program can be watched at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1085388328530098.
The DOUS SAS Team is composed of Dr. Meljo Apilado, Dr. Jonald Carrerra, Prof. Christine Joy Ugay, Prof. Claudia Denise Barbadillo, Dr. Jouie Donato, Dr. Ophelia RL Cardenas, Prof. Melben Gene Sapitula, and Ms. Remedios Maja Tabudlo, the DOUS Registrar.
