In a bid to further reduce the out-of-pocket expenses related to education, Senator Sonny Angara is now pushing for a 5 percent discount on restaurants, medicines, textbooks and school supplies for poor students in all levels under a proposal aimed at encouraging more Filipino families to send their children to schools.
Even with the implementation of the Free College Education Law and expansion of the government’s scholarship system, Angara said poor families still have to shell out significant amounts for their children’s education.
“Even with implementation of the Free College Education Law and expansion of the government’s scholarship system, families still have to shell out significant amounts for their children’s education.”
“Ginagawa po natin ang lahat para masigurong wala nang dahilan para hindi makapagtapos ng pag-aaral ang ating mga anak sa pamamagitan ng mga batas na ating nagawa at kasalukuyang isinusulong,” said the seasoned legislator, who is seeking a second term as senator in the May midterm elections under the platform “Alagang Angara.”
The veteran lawmaker is one of the authors of both the Free College Education Law and the bill institutionalizing the grant of 20 percent fare discounts to students even during weekends and holidays on all means of transportation all-year round. The student fare discount bill is now awaiting the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte after being approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The senator issued the statement while campaigning in Pangasinan, which is home to about 60 higher education institutions, including the Pangasinan State University whose main campus is located in Lingayen City and which has nine satellite campuses across the province.
Angara’s Senate Bill 134 or the proposed Underprivileged Students’ Discount Act seeks to grant qualified poor elementary, high school and college students, including those enrolled in technical-vocational institutions, a 5 percent discount on food establishments, medicines, textbooks and school supplies, and even on entrance fees to museums and cultural events.
“The bill seeks to grant a 5 percent discount on food establishments, medicines, textbooks and school supplies, and on entrance fees to museums and cultural events.”
During a hearing conducted by the Senate education committee in January 2017, the Commission on Higher Education said tuition only comprised 30 to 40 percent of a family’s out-of-pocket education expenses.
According to Angara, the 5 percent student discount, along with the 20 percent student fare discount, will greatly help underprivileged students and their families.
“Our proposed student discount aims to ease the financial burden of underprivileged students and their families to help them cope with the high cost of education and daily school expenses,” he added.
SB 134 also provides for tax incentives to establishments that would grant discounts, while those that would refuse would be penalized.
