Manila, May 12 -- The Senate on Tuesday approved a measure seeking to widen financial support for college and technical-vocational students by strengthening the implementation of the country's free tertiary education law.

With a 21-0-0 vote, senators passed Senate Bill No. 1894, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 10931 or the "Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act."

Sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the bill expands the coverage of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program and introduces additional support mechanisms for disadvantaged learners.

Under the measure, students from households covered by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who complete senior high school will automatically ...