MAY 17, 2013

NR # 3106

Enhanced educational assistance program for poor but deserving students pushed
Capable and deserving students who are constrained from pursuing higher education because of dire financial conditions may soon look forward to a brighter future. There is a bill filed in Congress, which seeks to create a comprehensive national loan program to increase the prospects of poor but deserving students for acquiring quality education and training. House Bill 43, which the authors are determined to re-introduce in the 16 th Congress, creates a special fund to be administered by the Educational Loan Fund Authority created under this Act. Under the bill, such funds shall be used to finance educational loans to cover matriculation, school fees, and other expenses needed for a quality education. One of the authors of the bill, Rep. Rufus B. Rodriguez (2 nd District, Cagayan de Oro City), said there is a need to democratize access to quality education to all Filipinos and make it a national policy to level the playing field between the haves and the havenots. Opportunities to pursue higher education and relevant training in fields of study vital to the national economy, including the nations collective national psyche, must be furnished to every citizen, Rodriguez said. One of the functions of the Educational Loan Fund Authority or Authority is to establish, develop, and implement a comprehensive program for the effective disposition of the Educational Loan Funds for loans to qualified loan applicants. Likewise, the bill directs the Authority to develop a system of collecting payments of loans granted under this Act and issue rules and regulations necessary for the proper implementation of this Act. The Authority is also tasked to exercise such other functions and duties as well as promote and expand educational opportunities for needy and deserving Filipinos to carry into effect the provisions of this Act. To qualify for the educational loan, any Filipino citizen who graduates from a duly recognized high school, and passes the college or university entrance examination where

she or he intends to enroll in is qualified to avail of the benefits of the Educational Loan Fund. The bill provides that the loans shall be available only for undergraduate degree courses and not cover post graduate courses and that the maximum loan amount shall be equivalent to the average of the prevailing cost per academic unit at the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University multiplied by 25 academic units. Another author, Rep. Maximo B. Rodriguez Jr. (Party-list, Abante Mindanao), said an enhanced educational assistance program increases the prospects of poor but deserving students of acquiring quality education and training needed to uplift not only their own lot but that of their family and communities as well. (30) mvip