The Philippines has signed into law moves to scrap tuition fees at more than 100 state universities and colleges.

The move by president Rodrigo Duterte is likely to cost about $2 billion (?1.5 billion) a year and will also see tuition charges abolished at tertiary education colleges.

¡°Tuition in tertiary education in state universities and colleges is a very strong pillar or cornerstone of the president¡¯s social development policy,¡± said Menardo Guevarra, senior deputy executive secretary as legislation to remove fees was signed into law.

Students held mass rallies across the country to celebrate the passage of the new law.

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The government's budget secretary had previously warned that the policy was unaffordable.

Under President Duterte's education plan, there are also measures to stem the tide of mass migration of Filipino medical professionals, with the provision of tuition-free education for aspiring Filipino doctors.?

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Those who receive the money will have to give one year of service in the country for every year of cash grant received

jack.grove@timeshighereducation.com