Education

Bam files resolution to look into field trips

A lawmaker wants to look into the field trip accident that left 15 people dead to craft a better guidelines regarding educational tours and make out-of-school activities safer for students.

 “Gusto nating alamin ang nangyari at pangalawa, kung anong reporma ang kailangang gawin upang mas maging ligtas ang out-of-school activities sa ating mga kabataan,” said Sen. Bam Aquino, chairman of the Committee on Education, as he filed Senate Resolution No. 297, calling for a probe on the accident.

  “We agree in general na mahalaga ang ganitong activities but it must be done in a safe environment na alam nating ligtas ang mga kabataan natin,” he added.

Sen. Bam said the committee probe will focus on reforms that must be implemented to ensure that there will be no repeat of such incident that cost the lives of 13 students, a teacher and the bus driver.

 The senator will also invite representatives from the Department of Education (DepEd) to discuss regulations regarding field trips in elementary and high schools.

The senator also expressed support behind the planned investigation of the Commission on Higher Education and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the matter.

Fifteen people, including 13 students and a teacher from Bestlink College, died when the bus they were riding met an accident in Tanay, Rizal.

 According to initial investigation, the students were en-route to a medical and survival training for their National Service Training Program subject when the bus lost its brakes while traversing a curved highway before hitting a electrical post and a tree.

Students back free tuition in SUCs, call it way to better future

“We now have a chance to rise from poverty and have a better future”.

 Thus said Jen Mark Calub, an aviation communication student at the Philippine State College of Aeronautics (PhilSCA), as he welcomed the proposed free tuition in state colleges and universities (SUCs).

 As a student regent, Calub is aware of the situation that financially challenged students undergo, especially when it comes to payment of tuition fee and other school charges.

 “Every enrollment, students asking for more time to pay their tuition fee due to lack of financial capacity is a common sight in our school,” said Calub.

 “The most common reason is the meager salaries of their parents while other students have to work for their tuition fee,” added Calub.

 Calub said PhilSCA students are now optimistic about finishing their college degree through the help of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”, principally sponsored by Sen. Bam Aquino.

Currently being tackled in the plenary, the measure seeks to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 “When we learned about the measure, we now believe that there is still hope for those who want to continue with their education at PhilSCA,” said Calub.

Tristen Jamon, supreme student council president at PhilSCA’s Basa Palmayo Campus, echoed Calub’s view, saying the measure will inspire students to finish their dream degree.

“Ito ang magbibigay sa amin ng pagkakataon upang makamit ang aming mga pangarap at magsisilbing motibasyon upang pagsikapan pang lalo ang aming pag-aaral,” he said.

 A student from the University of the Philippines-Diliman who requested anonymity, said the measure, if passed into law, will help Iskolars ng Bayan like him hurdle financial obstacles that hamper their studies.

 Aside from Sen. Bam, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.

Bam: Financially challenged students to benefit from free tuition in SUCs

Financially challenged students stand to benefit from the proposed free tuition in state colleges and universities (SUCs), according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

 Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”, which is currently being tackled in the plenary.

“Matutulungan ng panukalang ito ang mga estudyanteng gustong makatapos ng kolehiyo ngunit nakararanas ng problemang pinansiyal,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

In most cases, Sen. Bam said the parents of these students are regular employees, who are having a hard time making ends meet for the needs of their families due to meager salaries.

 Sen. Bam added there are some students who work part-time to sustain their educational needs, such as tuition fees and other school expenses.

The senator cited the cases of Mary Ann Valimento and Cherry Mae Cabillo, who were among those interviewed by his office as case studies for the measure.

A business administration student at Bulacan State University, Valimento is having a hard time paying her tuition and other school fees after her father suffered a stroke and had to stop working.

A 3rd-year IT student at Philippine State College of Aeronautics, Cabillo was forced to drop out of school due to her parents’ lack of financial capability, with her father working as farmer and her mother a plain housewife.

“Ilan lang sila sa napakaraming estudyante na kulang sa pinansiyal na kakayahan na dapat nating tulungan para magkaroon ng tsansa sa magandang buhay,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 According to data from Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), around 77 percent of students from majority of SUCs come from a family earning minimum wage income or less.

 Furthermore, the Annual Poverty Indicator Survey (APIS) 2014 report indicated that up to 71 percent of students in SUCs come from families with monthly family income of approximately P29,000 or less, and are struggling to send their children to school.

Earlier, Sen. Bam countered the position of several government agencies that the measure is anti-poor, saying the government must invest in education for the youth.

 Along with Sen. Bam, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.

Bam: Education for youth is the best investment

Education for the youth is the best investment our government can make.

Sen. Bam Aquino issued the pronouncement after several government agencies opposed the measure that seeks to provide free tuition fee in all SUCs. 

The senator affirmed the government’s commitment to provide free tuition in state colleges and universities, saying “If we have the money, why not invest in the future of our youth?”

 “The Senate has chosen this as one of its main priority measures in the 17th Congress,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 “Too many students fail to graduate college because of financial problems. Suportahan natin ang mga estudyante na makapagtapos. Let’s give them a chance at a better life through education,” added Sen. Bam.

 “If we’re willing to spend over P15 billion to host the ASEAN anniversary this year, why shouldn’t we spend roughly the same amount to make tuition free for our students in SUCs?” the senator pointed out.

 Sen. Bam is the principal sponsor of Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”, which is currently being tackled in the plenary.

 Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 177 was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1304 together with other similar measures, which seek to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from the Pagkaing Pinoy Bill, the Free Higher Education for All has received the most support in the 17th Congress.

 Along with Sen. Bam Aquino, other authors of the measure are Sens. Ralph Recto, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Loren Legarda, Leila de Lima, Cynthia Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri and Richard Gordon.

 Sens. Recto, Ejercito, Angara, Legarda, Villanueva, Gatchalian and Zubiri co-sponsored the measure.

 Providing free tuition fee in SUCs is only one of many reforms Sen. Bam is pushing in the field of education.

Bam to consult students on planned ROTC revival

Nakonsulta ba ang mga estudyante tungkol dito?

Sen. Bam Aquino wants students and their parents to speak up on the government’s plan to revive the Reserved Officers Training Course (ROTC) for Grades 11 and 12.

 “We want to know the students’ position on this matter,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

 Sen. Bam called on students, student councils and parents’ associations to express their views on this plan by submitting position papers to his committee.

 “We will also be conducting online poll through our social media sites to give students and parents an avenue to voice out their opinion before we conduct hearings on this issue,” Sen. Bam stressed.

 At present, three bills calling for the revival of the ROTC are pending with the Committee on Education – Senate Bills 1131, 200 and 189, authored by Sens. JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian and Manny Pacquiao, respectively.

 The ROTC became optional in 2002 through Republic Act 9163 or the National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001

Bam: ‘Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy’ to help combat hunger

Once passed into law, the Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy measure will help address the problem of hunger in the country, according to Sen. Bam Aquino.

 Latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey indicated that an estimated 3.1 million Filipino families or 13.9 percent experienced involuntary hunger at least once during the 4th quarter of 2016.

 The result was slightly higher than the 11.7 percent or 2.6 million in December 2015.

 “Malaki ang maitutulong ng panukalang ito upang mabawasan ang insidente ng kagutuman sa hanay ng ating mga kabataan sa bansa kapag ito’y naisabatas,” said Sen. Bam, principal sponsor and co-author of Senate Bill No. 1279, which is currently being tackled by the plenary.

 Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 694 was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1279 together with Senate Bill Nos. 23, 123, 160 and 548.

 “Sa lakas ng suportang nakuha ng panukalang ito, inaasahan natin na ito’y maisasabatas sa lalong madaling panahon upang agad na makatulong sa pagtugon sa problema ng kagutuman,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education.

The measure will mandate the Department of Education to ensure that students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 are provided with proper and nutritious meals.

“Through this policy, school children in the kindergarten and elementary levels will enjoy free regular access to nutritious food with the DepEd ensuring that students from kindergarten to grade 6 are provided with proper meals,” Sen. Bam said.

Under the proposed measure, the feeding program will source produce from local farmers and fishermen to provide them with regular income and livelihood.

“Sa Pagkaing Pinoy para sa Batang Pinoy Act, lalaki nang malakas, matalino at malusog ang kabataang Pilipino habang umaasenso ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” said Sen. Bam.

Based on 2012 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 16 million Filipino children are considered undernourished.

 Studies also show that the average age of the 11 million Filipino farmers and fishermen is 57 years old while the average annual income of a farmer is only about P20,000.

The bill also pushes for the “Gulayan sa Paaralan” program to promote gardening in schools and households to help augment the food needs of the program and instill a sense of appreciation for food production within the community.

Bam sponsors free tuition in SUCs bill, eyes more college graduates

To unlock the door to a brighter future for more Filipinos, Sen. Bam Aquino urged colleagues to provide free tuition fees in state college and universities (SUCs).

 “I believe it’s high time we invest boldly on education, especially now that we have the means and resources to make this happen,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, in his sponsorship speech for Senate Bill No. 1304 or the “Free Higher Education for All Act”.

Sen. Bam’s Senate Bill No. 177 was consolidated in Senate Bill No. 1304 together with other similar measures, which seek to provide free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 In his speech, Sen. Bam expressed hope that institutionalization of free tuition in SUCs will lead to more college graduates.

 Based on data, only one of four students in SUCs will earn a degree while the rest will drop out. The number one reason for drop outs is financial issues or poverty.

 “Our proposed measure seeks to improve access to higher education and empower more Filipinos with the promise of a college diploma,” Sen. Bam stressed.

At present, the senator said about 1,645,566 students are enrolled in different SUCs, where the average weighted annual tuition is P9,407.

If passed, Sen. Bam said the government will shell out around P16 billion every year to subsidize tuition fees in SUCs.

 On top of the free tuition in SUCs, Sen. Bam also assured private stakeholders that the government will also strengthen its Student Financial Assistance Program or StuFAP.

 At present, 19 StuFAPs are lodged in different government agencies such as the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of National Defense (DND).

 These programs include scholarships, grants-in-aid, student loans, subsidies and incentives that cover other educational expenses and the living allowance incurred by students pursuing higher education.

 With the proposed measure and other policies and laws, such as the Iskolar ng Bayan Act, StuFAP through UNIFAST, and scholarships lodged in CHED, DOST and DND, Sen. Bam is confident that more Filipinos will be empowered by a college degree.

In addition to the free tuition in SUCs, Sen. Bam also filed several education-related measures — Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act and Senate Bill No 171 or the Abot Alam Bill. Senate Bill No. 1279 is now being tackled in the plenary.

 “Isa lang po ito sa inaalay naming reporma sa hanay ng edukasyon. Marami pa po tayong ibang kailangang i-trabaho at gawin upang tunay na umasenso ang buhay ng bawat Pilipino,” Sen. Bam pointed out.

Bam eyes quick repair, rehab of schools destroyed by typhoon

A senator has filed two resolutions seeking to determine the status of relief and rehabilitation of schools destroyed by Typhoon Nina in Regions IV-A, IV-B and V and post-disaster recovery in the Lawin-ravaged Cagayan province.

 In Senate Resolution No. 266, Sen. Bam Aquino said 1,046 schools sustained infrastructure damage, 1,548 totally destroyed classrooms and 3,797 partially major damaged classrooms in Regions IV-A, IV-B and V.

 “Thousands were affected due to the change in the schedule of classes caused by the devastation of the typhoon,” said Sen. Bam, adding that the disruption in classes will last for six months as estimated by the Department of Education (DepEd).

 In addition, 63,232 units of school furniture, 386,689 learning resources and computers in 384 schools were destroyed by the typhoon, which wreaked havoc on Christmas Day.

  “Preparedness and long-term solutions are needed to mitigate the effects of typhoons and natural hazards to students and learners,” said Sen. Bam, who also backed the DepEd’s call for the restoration of the P650-million Quick Response Fund (QRF).

 According to Sen. Bam, some of the solutions include the early allotment of funds for cleanup and temporary learning services, buffer stock of furniture and computers and their prepositioning in disaster-prone areas.

Sen. Bam also submitted Senate Resolution No. 267 to ensure proper coordination between the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), concerned local government units and private sector in the delivery of humanitarian aid to typhoon victims in Cagayan.

“This will lead to the recovery and the restoration of the livelihood, welfare and well-being of the affected families, particularly the children and the youth,” said Sen. Bam.

According to reports, typhoon Lawin destroyed P8.5 billion worth of agricultural products and infrastructure in Cagayan and left 15 people dead in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and Cagayan Valley.

 Typhoon Lawin also displaced a total of 143,531 people or 28,710 families in Ilocos Region,Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, CALABARZON and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

Bam: CHED ‘out of touch’ on claim SUC students are ‘moneyed, non-poor’

Senator Bam Aquino described as “out of touch” the Commission on Higher Education’s claim that students in state colleges and universities (SUCs) are mostly moneyed and non-poor.

 “Three out of four ng estudyante sa SUC ay nagda-drop-out dahil kulang ang kanilang pambayad. Paano sila naging mayaman,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education in the 17th Congress.

 Sen. Bam’s reaction came after CHED chairperson Patricia Licuanan said in a television interview that “only moneyed and non-poor students will enjoy the P8.3-billion budget for free tuition fee in SUCs”.

 While he admitted that the country’s “poorest of the poor” are not in college, Sen. Bam said many of the students in SUCs still come from families of minimum-wage earners.

 “Hindi masasabing sila ang poorest of the poor, pero kailangan pa rin nila ng tulong pinansiyal para makatapos ng kolehiyo,” said Sen. Bam.

As chairman of the Committee on Education, Sen. Bam said the institutionalization of free tuition in SUCs will keep students in schools and lead to more college graduates.

 “We want more people to get a degree. Sana sa tulong ng repormang ito, dumami pa ang college graduates sa Pilipinas na makatutulong sa kanilang pamilya sa malapit na hinaharap,” Sen. Bam said in a television interview.

Aquino filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from Sen. Bam’s bill, several senators have filed similar measures to institutionalize free college education in SUCs beyond the allocation of P8.3 billion in the 2017 budget.

“We’re very positive about it, we’re very hopeful about this bill, and we’re getting a lot of cross-party support. We hope to pass it as soon as possible,” said Sen. Bam.

Aside from free tuition fees in SUCs, Sen. Bam has also filed other education-related bills in the 17th Congress.

 Among them is the Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which recently hurdled the committee level and will be discussed in plenary this year.

Sen. Bam also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).

Bam: Free college tuition fee bill expected to be passed next year

Sen. Bam Aquino is optimistic that measures pushing for free tuition fees in state colleges and universities will be enacted into law next year.

 “We’re hoping we can pass this by February or March in time for June school year at para libre na ang college tuition every school year,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Committee on Education, during a media interview in Tuguegarao City.

“Masaya rin tayo na maraming senador ang sumusuporta sa panukalang ito na ng libreng tuition fee ang mga mahihirap na estudyante sa ating SUCs,” added Sen. Bam, who filed Senate Bill No. 177 or the Free Higher Education for All Act giving free tuition fee to all students in SUCs.

 Aside from Sen. Bam’s bill, five other similar measures were filed in the Senate during the 17th Congress.

While P8 billion was already earmarked for free tuition fees in SUCs in next year’s budget, Sen. Bam stressed that a law is needed to make it a regular item in succeeding national budgets.

“Malaking bagay po ang dagdag na budget na ito but hopefully, by next year, we can do the accompanying law na maglalaan ng regular na pondo para rito bawat taon,” Sen. Bam said.

 During his visit to several state colleges in Cagayan and Isabela recently, Sen. Bam also held a dialogue with students, informing them about the education-related bills he has filed in the 17th Congress.

 Among them is the Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which recently hurdled the committee level and will be discussed in plenary next year.

Sen. Bam also wants to give out of school youth (OSY) in the country access to education through his Senate Bill No. 171 or the Abot Alam Bill, which seeks to institutionalize alternative learning system (ALS).

 

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