Section 5Sec./Art. 5

Scope and Coverage of the UniFAST. The UniFAST shall consist of all existing modalities of StuFAPs for Tertiary Education and Special Purpose Education Assistance in both public and private institutions, including Scholarships, Grants-in-Aid, Student Loans and government programs in partnership with other stakeholders, among others, and which are nationally funded and/or implemented by national and local government agencies, branches and instrumentalities. A student enrolling in Tertiary Education, whether in public, private, national or local institutions, can avail of any one (1) or more of the said modalities of StuFAP.

The UniFAST under this Act shall harmonize, reform, strengthen, expand, rationalize, and re-focus all legislated or ongoing StuFAPs of the government for greater efficiency, coherence, synchronization, effective funding, and improved coordination among implementing entities in their specific jurisdiction: Provided, That nothing in this Act shall prevent the continuation of effective programs implemented by other government agencies or of state-funded StuFAPs with specific and targeted Beneficiaries such as existing technical-vocational Scholarship programs under the TESDA, Scholarships under the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA), the National Agriculture and Fisheries Education System (NAFES), Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Scholarship (ACEFS), the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994, the Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013, the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) Act, Student Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) of the CHED and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) which shall continue to be under the jurisdiction of the agencies currently responsible for their design and implementation: Provided, further, That the beneficiary-targeting and standards for selection and retention and awards shall be compliant with the overall policies on quality, sustainability and efficiency set by the Board: Provided, finally, That the relevant government agencies shall submit an annual report on the implementation of their StuFAPs to the UniFAST Board.

The above provisions notwithstanding, all other requirements mentioned herein shall be complied with upon the approval of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of this Act.

ARTICLE II

MODALITIES OF StuFAPS