House panel approves proposed student internship allowance bill

A proposed student internship program granting a one-time allowance to students has been approved at the committee level, it was learned on Tuesday.

The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education approved House Bill No. 2778, a measure seeking to institutionalize a one-time internship allowance for students completing required internship, practicum, or on-the-job training (OJT) programs in higher education and technical-vocational institutions.

Titled the Student Internship Allowance Act, the bill aims to grant a one-time allowance of P10,000 to qualified students who successfully complete their required internship or practicum. The measure seeks to help ease the financial burden often shouldered by students for transportation, food, documentation, and other incidental expenses during their training period.

The bill was principally authored by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, together with Tingog Party-list Representatives Yedda Marie Romualdez, Andrew Julian Romualdez, and Jude Acidre.

During the committee deliberations, Acidre underscored that internship and practicum programs serve as a critical bridge between education and employment but often come at a significant cost to students and their families.

He said the measure recognizes that learning does not stop in the classroom, as internships are an essential part of preparing students for the workforce, and that financial constraints should not prevent them from completing this academic requirement.

Under the proposed measure, the allowance will be extended to students enrolled in public and private higher education institutions recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as technical-vocational institutions accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), provided they have satisfactorily completed the required internship or OJT hours under their respective programs.

The bill provides that the allowance shall be non-taxable, non-transferable, and not subject to any deductions.

Funding for the program will initially be sourced from the current budgets of CHED and TESDA, with subsequent appropriations to be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

The proposed Student Internship Allowance Act was among the measures put forward during the First Eastern Visayas Young Leaders Parliament held in December 2024, reflecting youth-driven policy recommendations aimed at easing the transition from school to work.

With its approval at the committee level, the measure now moves forward in the legislative process.