DepEd backs proposed P1,000 monthly allowance for students

The Department of Education (DepEd) expressed its support for a congressional bill proposing a P1,000 monthly allowance for students.

In a radio interview, DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said that their department would welcome any initiative that will benefit all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

“We welcome this kind of value-added for our learners but of course we have to make a balance regarding the DepEd’s budget,” Garma said.

The undersecretary added that he hopes parents will “be more motivated” to send their children to school.

“We are willing and ready to help in passing the law and its guidelines,” Garma added.

The education department also said they have no details yet on how the allowance would be distributed.

Among the possible methods mentioned are through the DepEd Director, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, or an “existing mechanism for social amelioration.”

Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste filed House Bill 27, which seeks to provide a P1,000 monthly allowance to help cover students’ transportation and school supplies.

Leviste added that the government would have to allocate a budget of P300 billion yearly to fund the assistance.

His bill also requires that students must attend at least 80 percent of their classes.

Another bill filed in Congress proposes to increase the minimum salary of teachers from P30,000 to P50,000.

It was filed by Rep. Antonio Tinio of ACT-Teachers and Rep. Renee Co of Kabataan Partylist.

They said the measure aims to “close the gap” between teachers’ salaries and the rising cost of living.

The lawmakers noted that teachers’ salaries increased by only 5 percent, while the salaries of soldiers and policemen rose by 50 to 100 percent under the Duterte administration.