By Robert Maico
LUCBAN, Quezon Aug 4 (PNA) — Representative Roman Romulo (Lone District, Pasig City) informed students here that 80,000 of the country’s best-performing public high school students are now assured of scholarships in 112 state universities and colleges (SUCs) nationwide without taking entrance exams with the passage of the “Iskolar ng Bayan Program.”
Romulo graced the 51st founding anniversary of Southern Luzon State University (SLSU) in this town on Monday.
Romulo, chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, is the main sponsor of the ”Iskolar ng Bayan Law.”
Romulo said that more than 6,000 of these scholars come from Quezon province and other areas of the Calabarzon Region. Calabarzon comprises the southern Luzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.
He noted that the legislation (Republic Act No. 10648) which President Benigno Aquino III signed into law late last year, will enable a greater number of Filipino families to fulfill the dream of sending their children to college.
“Highly improved access to a college education is a crucially important in fighting poverty and growing our middle class families,” said Romulo.
In the question and answer portion, Romulo told the students that the top 10 graduates of public high schools will be entitled to admission to the SUC of his or her choice within their province, without having to pay for first-year tuition and miscellaneous fees. A year after the student beneficiary avails himself or herself of the college scholarship offered by the government, he or she will be covered by financial assistance from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), subject to certain criteria.
Romulo also explained the passage of major bills on education like the Open Distance Learning Act (Republic Act no. 10650) which provides the opportunity to obtain bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees even at home on in their respective work places; and the Ladderized Education Act of 2014 (Republic Act 10647) wherein students can initially enroll in a ladderized course in automotive servicing and welding in order to secure work the soonest time possible.
Romulo added that he authored several bills which already passed on third reading by the House of Representatives (HOR) and now await Senate concurrences such as the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Higher and Technical Education (UniFAST Act), The Voluntary Student Loan Program and the Campus Safety and Security Act.
In an interview, Romulo said these Acts are tools to multiply the country’s future professionals and leaders especially with the upcoming ASEAN Economic Integration.
“Education is our strength into international competition,” Romulo said. (PNA)