* Pushes more opportunities for deserving students
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go welcomed the Senate’s approval on third and final reading of Senate Bill No. 2410, or the proposed Presidential Merit Scholarship Program Act, which seeks to institutionalize a national scholarship program for academically outstanding Filipino students who need financial assistance to pursue higher education.
Go is a co-sponsor of the measure, which seeks to place the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program on a permanent statutory footing under the Commission on Higher Education and support top-performing senior high school graduates pursuing priority fields aligned with the country’s workforce and development needs.
The proposed program is envisioned to complement existing government scholarship initiatives by extending educational assistance to academically exceptional students, particularly those whose financial circumstances could otherwise prevent them from completing college. Earlier versions of the measure provide for tuition support, stipends and other education-related allowances subject to program guidelines and available funding.
Go, who chairs the Senate Committee on Youth, stressed that academic ability should be matched by opportunities for deserving students to pursue their potential.
“Education is a right, not a privilege, kaya tuloy-tuloy lang po ang ating trabaho. Bilang Chairman ng Committee on Youth, prayoridad ko ang edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan na pundasyon ng kanilang mga pangarap. Ito ang susi sa kanilang magandang kinabukasan,” Go previously said.
The proposed scholarship program targets top-performing senior high school graduates admitted to CHED-identified priority programs. The broader legislative framework has been designed to help develop professionals for critical and hard-to-fill occupations while ensuring that lack of money does not waste exceptional academic potential.
The House of Representatives had earlier approved its counterpart measure, House Bill No. 8477, which also seeks to institutionalize the program and integrate the existing merit scholarship initiative into a national framework supporting top-performing students.
Go said the measure complements continuing efforts to widen access to tertiary education and address the financial pressures that cause students to abandon their studies.
“Yung edukasyon po ay puhunan natin hanggang sa pagtanda natin, hindi po ito nawawala. If we fail to support them in finishing their education, we risk failing not just these students, but also the future of our nation,” he previously stressed.
His support for the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program comes shortly after the enactment of Republic Act No. 12325, which strengthened the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education framework and improved the targeting of the Tertiary Education Subsidy for students most in need.
Go had also filed Senate Bill No. 169 seeking to expand tertiary education assistance, as part of his push to ensure that students are not forced to drop out simply because their families cannot shoulder transportation, food, learning materials and other everyday costs associated with going to college.
He has likewise supported education reforms including RA 12006, or the Free College Entrance Examinations Act; RA 11984, or the No Permit, No Exam Prohibition Act; and RA 12077, which provides a moratorium on student loan payments during disasters and emergencies.
Go emphasized that scholarship programs should not only help young Filipinos enter college but give them a realistic chance to finish their degrees and eventually contribute their skills to the country.
“Para maipagpatuloy ng mga kabataan, lalo na po ng mga mahihirap ang kanilang pag-aaral, sinusuportahan po natin ang scholarship programs ng gobyerno. Tumutugon ito sa misyon natin na mapagkalooban sila ng inclusive and quality education,” he said.
With Senate approval of SBN 2410, Go expressed hope that the measure can move closer to enactment and become another pathway for talented Filipino students to turn academic excellence into opportunities for themselves, their families and the nation.
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