MANILA, Philippines - The House of Representatives has passed on third and final reading a measure granting discounts to underprivileged students in the post-secondary and tertiary levels.
Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the House committee on higher and technical education, said House Bill 4373 or the “Underprivileged Post-Secondary and Tertiary Students’ Discount Act of 2011,” grants discounts to underprivileged students to lessen their financial burden and help them cope with the rising cost of education.
Angara said the measure entitles underprivileged students to a five percent discount on tuition, miscellaneous expenses and other school fees, snacks and meals in food establishments, medicine, school supplies and books.
Marikina City Rep. Marcelino Teodoro, principal author of the bill, said the state is mandated to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.
He said the “state shall establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially the underprivileged.”
“Despite numerous attempts to implement education reforms, programs and projects to address the key issues of access and quality of basic education, relevance and efficiency of the country’s education system, many problems are still besetting education in the Philippines and it is, basically, because of poverty that hinders the access of many Filipinos to education,” Teodoro said.
Under the measure, the five percent discount for students would automatically stop if the student fails a semester, fails to finish a course within two years, stops schooling for one semester or is convicted of any crime.
Those who are covered by the bill are students enrolled in technical-vocational courses in the post-secondary level and those taking up degree programs in the college or tertiary level, whose parents have a gross annual income of not more than P100,000 subject to review by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) every three years.
The bill mandates the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to determine qualified beneficiaries through the Office of Student Services and the Office of Technical-Vocational Education and Training Systems Development Office.
The co-authors of the bill are representatives Teodoro Casio (Bayan Muna), Emil Ong (Northern Samar 2nd district), Philip Pichay (Surigao del Sur 2nd district) and Cesar Sarmiento (Catanduanes).
By Paolo Romero, The Philippine Star
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