Lawmaker pushes emergency financial aid for students

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) should establish a financial aid program for students in dire need of help to pay for their costs of living and schooling, Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo said yesterday.

“The haunting reality of student suicides” has made it urgent for CHED and SUCs to put up the mechanism for the quick release of grants to potential beneficiaries based on a unified set of guidelines, he said.

“This is one practical approach to help students facing extreme financial difficulties while in college,” he added.

The case of Rosanna Sanfuego, a 16-year-old respiratory therapy freshman at the Cagayan State University (CSU) in Caritan, Tuguegarao City, has turned the spotlight on student suicides due to severe economic hardship, the House of Representatives committee on higher and technical education chairman said. 

Sanfuego hanged herself at their home in Abulug town on Feb. 25 after she became despondent over her inability to pay her school and dormitory fees, aside from being unable to afford enough food while studying.

The suicide of 16-year-old Kristel Tejada two years ago also magnified the susceptibility of financially distressed students.

A behavioral science freshman at the University of the Philippines Manila, Tejada drank silver cleaner after she was grief-stricken due to unpaid tuition.

Romulo said school authorities need to do a lot of soul-searching.

“College students are at a vulnerable age,” he said. “Some of them can be easily overwhelmed by hard times, especially if they have nobody else to run to for help.”

He said SUCs have to assure indigent students “that they can obtain immediate financial relief from a highly responsive support system.” 

Romulo said the CHED and SUCs have ample funds to support financially distressed students.

This year alone, national government is spending some P7.7 billion for post-high school scholarships, he added.

SUCs have a combined P3.5 billion available for scholarships. This is apart from the CHED’s P2.2-billion allotment for student financial aid.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority has another P2 billion for its Training for Work Scholarship Program.

Romulo sponsored the House-approved Unified Financial Assistance System for Higher and Technical Education (UniFAST) to enable a greater number of college students from disadvantaged families to access state-sponsored financial assistance.

Now nearing Senate approval, UniFAST is expected to vastly improve the distribution of college scholarships, study grants, grants-in-aid and low-cost educational loans.

Romulo also introduced the Iskolar ng Bayan Program, now Republic Act 10648, which provides the top 10 graduates of every public high school with scholarships in SUCs.

His proposed Voluntary Student Loan Program by Private Banks, which the House previously passed on third and final reading, is now awaiting Senate approval.