IN TIME for the school opening this June 2018, Senator Sonny Angara called on Sunday, May 27, on Congress to fast-track the passage of a measure granting student discount on textbooks and other school supplies as well as the other basic services to underprivileged students in all levels in the country.
Angara said considering the present economic situation, it is high time that Congress give considerations for parents and students specifically those with limited resources.
“Balik Eskwela na naman. Siguradong excited na ang mga bata mamili ng mga bagong gamit sa school pero para sa mga magulang panahon na naman ito ng malaking gastos (It is back to school once again. Although children are excited to buy new supplies for school the opening of school is usually a burden to many parents because it will eat a big part of their normal budget)," said Angara, author of Senate Bill 134 who is pushing for the immediate passage of this measure to provide them with discounts to ease the family’s expenses on education.
The senator from Aurora Quezon who is a known advocate of educational reform said this measure seeks to grant discounts on books, school supplies, and other basic services to underprivileged students in all
levels in the country.
Under Senate Bill 134, underprivileged elementary, high school and college students, including those enrolled in technical-vocational (tech-voc) institutions, will be entitled to a 5-percent discount on
textbooks and school supplies, food establishments, and medicines and on museums, theaters and cultural events.
To qualify, the parents of the student should have a gross annual income of not more than P150,000.
Working students are also qualified if their income combined with their parents’ annual gross income would not exceed P150,000.
As proof of eligibility, student discount cards, which would be valid anywhere in the country, would be issued to the qualified beneficiaries.
All qualified students would also be granted a 5-percent discount on tuition fees, miscellaneous and other school fees by both public and private schools where they are enrolled in.
Such discount would not preclude underprivileged students from availing other educational assistance provided by the school and the government, according to Angara.
The bill also provides for tax incentives to establishments that would grant discounts, while those that would refuse to give discounts would be penalized.
“Habang libre na ang tuition sa high school at kolehiyo,malaking bahagi pa rin ang gastusin sa paaral ang libro, school supplies, uniform at araw-araw na baon ng mga bata para sa pamasahe at pagkain.
(While tuition in high school and college is now free, it is a fact that a huge portion of educational expenses like books, school supplies, uniform and their everyday allowances for food and transportation still hurt many parents in trying to meet both ends meet),” said Angara, one of the authors of the free college law or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or Republic Act No. 10931.
“Our proposed student discount aims to ease the financial burden of underprivileged students and their families to help them cope with the high cost of education and daily school expenses,” he stressed.
Angara is also the author or a separate bill that grants 20 percent student fare discount on land, rail sea and air transportation even during summer breaks and holiday.
But at the same time, Angara said the government should provide tax incentives to establishments that would grant discounts through his Senate Bill 134, while those that would refuse to provide discount would be penalized. (Jun M. Sarmiento/SunStar Philippines)