‘Savings from DPWH budget can fund college scholarships’

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker wants government savings from the budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) be used to fund college scholarships next year.

During a hearing on the budget of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste of the first district of Batangas moved to provide scholarships or educational assistance to all college students in 2026.

“This is a very good program, but at the moment, because of budgetary constraints, we are choosing the beneficiaries of the program. Many will benefit if all qualified students will be automatically included in the “Tulong Dunong” program, would you agree Madam Chair?” Leviste asked CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis.

“If there is a budget, who would say no, not to help those students in need of it?” Agrupis replied.

Leviste said the government could extend the “Tulong Dunong” program to every qualified student by reducing the budget of the DPWH by around five percent.

He asked the House committee on appropriations chaired by Rep. Mikaela Suansing of the first district of Nueva Ecija if it could make an amendment, at least in his district in Batangas.

“If we can reduce the unit costs of roads to be built by the DPWH, we can guarantee the inclusion of every qualified student in the first district of Batangas in the “Tulong Dunong” program,” he said.

As vice chairman of the House committee on appropriations, Leviste said he is aiming to reduce wastage in the national budget and allocate the savings to the education sector in order to end the cycle of poverty in the country.