The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) lauds the enactment of the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) Law as a landmark measure that finally institutionalizes a long-overdue alternative education pathway which grants academic credits for relevant work experience, skills, and prior learning towards earning a college diploma.
“For far too long, countless Filipinos—whether factory or office employees at home or our or our modern-day heroes, the overseas Filipino workers (OFWs)—have been denied a diploma simply because they prioritized putting food on the table over sitting in a classroom. This law now recognizes their hard-earned skills and real-world experience for what it truly is: stepping stones of academic achievement towards a college diploma without starting from scratch,” stated TUCP President and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito C. Mendoza.
The ETEEAP Law provides that Filipino citizens, both local and overseas, aged 23 and above with at least five years of relevant work experience can apply for the program, provided they have completed secondary education.
“This is more than just a diploma—it is justice for our breadwinners, our working students, and the countless OFWs who have built our families, our economies, and our country through years, even decades, of labor, sacrificing their blood, sweat, and tears. This historic legislation empowers them to finally earn the college diploma they have long dreamed of, opening doors of opportunities for promotion, security of tenure, and higher wages along with better terms and conditions as they climb the career ladder. Likewise, for our returning OFWs, this law serves as a vital bridge home where they can start their lives and livelihood anew and secure their future here in the Philippines with the college diploma they rightfully deserve,” explained Mendoza who authored the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Act.
