MALABON CITY, Philippines — Thousands of students and families in Malabon have gained renewed access to the country’s free higher-education system after the City of Malabon University (CMU) was approved for inclusion under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).
The UniFAST Board approved CMU’s inclusion during its 54th Regular Meeting on August 13, 2026, placing the local university back among institutions eligible to participate in programs established under Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act. The development was reported by the Philippine Information Agency and confirmed through CMU’s own announcements.
For Malabon families, the decision represents more than an administrative milestone. It restores a major pathway to affordable college education at a time when tuition, transportation, learning materials and other school expenses continue to put pressure on household budgets.
What the UniFAST approval means for CMU students
With its renewed eligibility, qualified CMU students may avail themselves of free tuition and other covered school fees under RA 10931, subject to the law’s requirements and applicable implementing rules.
Eligible students may also have access to national assistance programs, including the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), depending on their qualifications and the availability of government funds. UniFAST is the national system responsible for implementing several financial-assistance programs for tertiary education.
That distinction is important: UniFAST eligibility does not mean every student automatically receives every subsidy. Students must still meet the requirements of the applicable program.
CMU’s road back was not an overnight turnaround
The latest approval follows a lengthy effort to bring CMU back into compliance with national higher-education requirements.
Earlier reporting by PIA said CMU lost its UniFAST eligibility beginning in Academic Year 2022–2023 after the university failed to secure Institutional Recognition, complete Certificates of Program Compliance for its academic programs, submit required compliance documents and resolve governance and leadership requirements.
The situation began to change this year.
In May, CMU secured Institutional Recognition from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)—a significant development because the recognition confirms that a higher education institution meets national standards covering areas such as operations, faculty, facilities and curriculum. PIA reported that the recognition came after a 33-year wait since CMU’s founding.
The Manila Bulletin likewise reported that the recognition reopened the door to free-tuition and subsidy programs through UniFAST and RA 10931.
Daily Tribune reported that the city government had allocated more than ₱150 million annually from local funds to sustain CMU’s operations while the university worked through the compliance process. The local administration also undertook governance reforms, strengthened program certifications and improved documentation to meet national requirements.
Malabon government says education spending will continue
Mayor Jeannie Sandoval said the renewed UniFAST eligibility reflects the city’s continuing effort to make higher education accessible to Malabueños, particularly students whose families may struggle to shoulder college costs.
“Hindi dapat maging hadlang ang kakulangan sa pera para makapag-aral at makapagtapos,” Sandoval said, emphasizing the administration’s position that financial limitations should not prevent young people from earning a degree.
City Administrator Dr. Alexander Rosete said the university’s return to UniFAST followed reforms in governance and efforts to strengthen CMU’s compliance with CHED standards.
The administration has also pledged to continue improving CMU’s academic programs, facilities and governance systems to maintain compliance and protect students’ access to government-supported higher education.
Why the development matters beyond Malabon
The CMU story highlights an important reality behind the Philippines’ free-college program: access to government-funded higher education depends not only on the existence of a public university, but also on institutional compliance with national standards.
RA 10931 provides the legal framework for free higher education in eligible public institutions, while UniFAST administers major financial-assistance mechanisms connected to the law. The official UniFAST list identifies participating higher education institutions and the programs covered under the system.
For CMU, therefore, the August approval is both a victory and a responsibility.
The university has regained an important link to national education assistance—but maintaining that status will require continuing compliance with CHED and UniFAST requirements.
And that may be the most important part of the story for Malabon students: getting free higher education access back is one milestone; keeping it for the years ahead is the bigger challenge.
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