IN an apparent effort to propel quality education, a bill providing for the expansion of the Special Education Fund from where the government can draw resources to address the gap on school buildings, construction of libraries and payment of salaries, allowances and other benefits of teaching and non-teaching personnel.
During his visit to Minalin Pampanga for the distribution of assistance to indigent students, Senator Bong Go cited the need to reintroduce Senate Bill 1190 to address the inadequacies of the Philippine educational system.
Emphasizing the youth’s vital role in nation-building, the legislator from the south reassured his commitment to push for initiatives to enhance the country’s educational programs to further empower the youth, who the senator considers as the country’s future leaders.
“Sa mga estudyante, isa lang po ang bilin ko sa inyo, mag-aral po kayong mabuti. Kayo po ang kinabukasan ng bayan na ito. Pangalawa, yan po ang puhunan natin — edukasyon,” reminded Go in his speech. “Nagpapakamatay sa trabaho para maibigay ang nararapat sa anak… nagpapakahirap po ang inyong magulang para mapag-aral kayo kaya yan na lang ang ganti niyo sa kanila, ang mag-aral kayo ng mabuti. Yan lang po ang pakiusap ko sa kabataan,” he continued.
Held at Barangay Sta. Rita Covered Court, Go led his team in the distribution of grocery packs, masks, vitamins, shirts, umbrellas, and meals to 593 college student scholars. Additionally, the senator provided cellular phones, shoes, and watches to select beneficiaries. Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Sports, likewise gave away bicycles and balls for basketball and volleyball to select students in line with his efforts to encourage the youth to get into sports and stay away from illegal drugs and other vices.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), meanwhile, provided separate financial educational assistance that the student-scholars may use for their daily necessities. “My proposed measure thus seeks to institutionalize the expansion of the application of SEF to other education-related items, such as the payment of salaries, allowances and other benefits of teaching and non-teaching personnel,” he previously explained.
