QUEZON CITY, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles, Manila Bureau) – Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act which mandates free tuition at 112 state universities and colleges (SCUs) throughout the country.

However, upon the recommendation of the Department of Education, the new law signed by Duterte has dropped the University of the Philippines in Diliman from the free-tuition SCU list.

The decision to start charging tuition at UP Diliman was based on the campus’ increasing involvement in public protests and rallies.

“It is no longer an institution of higher learning, but rather a center for taxpayer-funded political activism,” Education Secretary Leonore Briones.”

The funds saved from this move will be used to provide scholarships to deserving but poor students who may not live in cities where there are SCUs, Briones said.