REPRESENTATIVE Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, of the 2nd District of the Province of Batangas filed House Bill No. 6908 which seeks to provide annual cash assistance of P1,000 to pre-elementary, P2,000 to elementary, P3,000 to junior high school, P4,000 to senior high school and P5,000 to college students.
“Noong 1988, ating ipinasa ang batas para sa Free Public Secondary or High School Education. Makalipas ng halos tatlumpung taon noong 2016, isinabatas naman natin ang Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education, o ang Free College Education Program Law. Napapanahon na upang atin pang dadagdagan ang access sa edukasyon ng lahat ng ating mga kabataan at mamamayan. Patotohanan din natin ang pagbibigay ng pinakamataas na prayoridad ng budgetary allocation sa edukasyon na syang utos ng ating Saligang Batas. Let’s institutionalize a universal educational assistance program,” said the neophyte Batangas solon.
The cash assistance under Luistro’s Bill shall cover all students, whether enrolled in public or private schools. There shall be no requirement as to the economic condition of the student beneficiary or his/her family. There shall also be no limit as to the number of beneficiaries per family or household. However, to continuously avail of the assistance, the student beneficiary must enroll and attend classes at least 80% of the time.
The amount of cash assistance shall be periodically assessed to take into consideration inflation, among other economic indicators. The cash shall be released via electronic cash transfer.
“Alam natin na kailangan nating dagdagan at ayusin ang ating mga school buildings. Kailangan din mag upgrade ng ating mga school facilities, laboratories at mga computers. Ang ating mga guro ay nararapat na mabigyan ng sapat at kaukulang mga trainings at skills upgrading.
Subalit, ang ating mga mag aaral ang una dapat sa lahat. Ang cash assistance sa House Bill 6908 ay maliit na baon lamang, subalit malayo ang mararating nito upang ang ating mga estudyante ay makapasok araw-araw at tuluyang makatapos ng pag aaral,” Luistro concluded.
