MANILA – Senator Bam Aquino was conferred the Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa degree by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in recognition of his authorship of the landmark Libreng Kolehiyo Law, which expanded access to higher education for millions of Filipino students.

Aquino received the honorary degree on Wednesday during PLM’s graduation ceremonies, where he also served as guest of honor and speaker.

“Today, we confer on him our highest honor, Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa. We award this in recognition of Senator Bam’s meritorious contribution to the advancement of education in our country as a student, as a youth leader, and as a legislator-senator,” said Atty. Edward Serapio, chairman of the PLM Board of Regents.

“Senator Aquino’s public service is marked by a relentless focus on expanding access to quality education and strengthening the systems that sustain it. Notably, he authored and championed the Free Tuition in Higher Education agenda that culminated in the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Republic Act 10931, for which many of you are beneficiaries,” he added.

Serapio said the law “stands as a testament to his commitment to making higher education accessible to every Filipino who seeks to learn and contribute to society.”

This is Aquino’s second honorary doctorate after receiving the same Doctor of Education, Honoris Causa distinction from Tarlac State University in 2017.

As principal sponsor of Republic Act No. 10931, Aquino led the passage of the measure during his tenure as chairperson of the Senate Committee on Education in 2017.

Recently, Aquino vowed to continue securing funding for the 3.5 million beneficiaries of the Libreng Kolehiyo Law in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), and private learning institutions under the 2026 national budget.

Currently, about 2.2 million students in SUCs and LUCs directly benefit from the law, while 1.3 million students in private universities and colleges receive aid through the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP).

In his speech, Aquino called for the reallocation of the ₱260 billion budget for flood control projects to education, health, and other essential services.

“Edukasyon, hindi korapsyon. Tanggalin ang pondo sa flood control, ilagay sa classroom. Tanggalin iyong pondo sa flood control, ilagay sa tulong para sa guro. Tanggalin iyong pondo sa flood control, ilagay sa mas maraming scholarship and subsidiya para sa mga kabataan natin,” he said.