Senator Aquino: Internship, RLE subsidies to be included under Free College Law

Senator Bam Aquino said students undergoing internships and related learning experiences (RLE) will soon be eligible for financial assistance under the Free College Law. These were included after the approval of amendments expanding the law’s coverage.

Aquino advocated for the inclusion of the subsidy during the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the conflicting provisions of Senate Bill No. 1894 and House Bill No. 8476. The approved amendments broaden the scope of Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Sa ilalim ng mga amyendang ito sa ating Free College Law, masisiguro na nating may tulong pinansiyal ang mga estudyanteng sumasailalim sa internships at RLE,” said Aquino, who co-authored Senate Bill No. 1894 and served as a member of the bicameral conference committee.

According to Aquino, many students shoulder administrative and other costs tied to internships and RLE, adding to the financial pressures they already face from tuition and other educational expenses.

The new provision delivers on Aquino’s campaign pledge to institutionalize financial assistance for nursing and allied health sciences students, whose RLE-related expenses can range from P20,000 to P80,000.

Earlier, Aquino secured P500 million under the 2026 national budget to help defray the RLE costs of allied health sciences students while serving as chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education.

The senator recently joined the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in launching an online portal for applications to the Allied Health Experiential Assistance for Deserving Students (AHEAD) Grant. The program was established through CHED Memorandum Order No. 11, Series of 2026.

Under the AHEAD Grant, Aquino said around 19,000 nursing and allied health sciences students may receive a one-time financial assistance of P25,000 to help cover their RLE expenses.

Eligible degree programs include Nursing, Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy, Speech Language Pathology, Public Health, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.Bam Aquino: Internship, RLE Subsidies to Be Included Under Free College Law

Senator Bam Aquino said students undergoing internships and related learning experiences (RLE) will soon be eligible for financial assistance under the Free College Law following the approval of amendments expanding the law’s coverage.

Aquino advocated for the inclusion of the subsidy during the bicameral conference committee deliberations on the conflicting provisions of Senate Bill No. 1894 and House Bill No. 8476. The approved amendments broaden the scope of Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

“Sa ilalim ng mga amyendang ito sa ating Free College Law, masisiguro na nating may tulong pinansiyal ang mga estudyanteng sumasailalim sa internships at RLE,” said Aquino, who co-authored Senate Bill No. 1894 and served as a member of the bicameral conference committee.

According to Aquino, many students shoulder administrative and other costs tied to internships and RLE, adding to the financial pressures they already face from tuition and other educational expenses.

The new provision delivers on Aquino’s campaign pledge to institutionalize financial assistance for nursing and allied health sciences students, whose RLE-related expenses can range from P20,000 to P80,000.

Earlier, Aquino secured P500 million under the 2026 national budget to help defray the RLE costs of allied health sciences students while serving as chairperson of the Committee on Basic Education.

The senator recently joined the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in launching an online portal for applications to the Allied Health Experiential Assistance for Deserving Students (AHEAD) Grant. The program was established through CHED Memorandum Order No. 11, Series of 2026.

Under the AHEAD Grant, Aquino said around 19,000 nursing and allied health sciences students may receive a one-time financial assistance of P25,000 to help cover their RLE expenses.

Eligible degree programs include Nursing, Medical Technology or Medical Laboratory Science, Midwifery, Nutrition and Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, Pharmacy, Speech Language Pathology, Public Health, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Optometry, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.