Gatchalian seeks immediate distribution of aid to basic education learners

Senator Win Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education (DepEd) to accelerate the release and distribution of financial aid allotted by the extended Bayanihan to Recover as One Act or Bayanihan 2 (Republic Act 11494) to qualified basic education learners who are facing financial difficulties because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gatchalian made this call following the recent release of a P5,000 grant to 54,761 private school students in higher education who have unpaid tuition and miscellaneous fees. The grant was distributed under the Bayanihan 2 for Higher Education Tulong Program (B2HELP) by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which had a P300 million allocation.

Bayanihan 2 provides for subsidies and allowances to qualified students in private and public elementary, secondary, and tertiary education whose families are facing financial difficulties following the imposition of quarantine measures and the resulting economic downturn.

These qualified students include those who are not covered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Listahanan, the Education Service Contracting (ESC) Program, the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP), and the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). Under Bayanihan 2, these subsidies shall be used for unpaid tuition for the school year (SY) 2019-2020 or for payment of tuition fee for SY 2020-2021.

According to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) website, the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) authorizing the release of P300 million to DepEd for these subsidies was already approved on December 18, 2020.

"Maraming mga mag-aaral ang matagal nang naghihintay ng tulong pinansyal upang maibsan ang kanilang pangamba pagdating sa mga pangangailangan sa edukasyon. Dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad ang mabilis na pagpapamahagi ng ayudang ito upang maiparating na natin ang tulong na matagal na nilang hinihintay," said the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

On December 29, 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11519, which extends the validity of funds under Bayanihan 2.

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Gatchalian: ayuda sa mag-aaral sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2 dapat nang ipamahagi

Hinimok ni Senador Win Gatchalian ang Department of Education (DepEd) na pabilisin ang paglabas at pagpapamahagi ng ayudang inilaan ng extended Bayanihan to Recover As One Act o Bayanihan 2 (Republic Act 11494) sa mga kwalipikadong mag-aaral ng basic education na humaharap sa mga problemang pinansyal dahil sa COVID-19 pandemic.

Ito ay matapos ipamahagi ng Commission on Higher Education (CHED) ang ayudang nagkakahalaga ng limang libong piso (P5,000) sa halos limampu't limang libong (54,761) mag-aaral sa mga pribadong kolehiyo na may hindi pa nababayarang tuition at miscellaneous fees. Ang ayudang ito ay ipinamahagi sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2 for Higher Education Tulong Program (B2HELP) na may budget na tatlong daang (300) milyon.

Naglaan ang Bayanihan 2 ng ayuda sa mga kwalipikadong mag-aaral mula sa mga pribado at pampublikong paaralan sa elementarya, high school, at kolehiyo na nangangailangan ng tulong pinansyal dahil sa pinsalang dinulot ng pandemya sa mga trabaho at ekonomiya.

Ang mga kwalipikadong mag-aaral na ito ay iyong mga hindi bahagi ng Education Service Contracting (ESC) Program ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) na "Listahan", Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS VP), at ang Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). Sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2, ang matatanggap na ayuda ay maaaring gamiting pambayad sa hindi pa nababayarang tuition para sa school year (SY) 2019-2020 o para sa pambayad ng tuition sa SY 2020-2021.

Ayon sa website ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM), aprubado na noong Disyembre 18, 2020 ang Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) para sa tatlong daang (300) milyong pisong budget para sa mga ayudang ito.

"Maraming mga mag-aaral ang matagal nang naghihintay ng tulong pinansyal upang maibsan ang kanilang pangamba pagdating sa mga pangangailangan sa edukasyon. Dapat nating bigyan ng prayoridad ang mabilis na pagpapamahagi ng ayudang ito upang maiparating na natin ang tulong na matagal na nilang hinihintay," ayon sa Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Noong ika-29 ng Disyembre ng nakaraang taon pinirmahan ng Pangulo ang Republic Act No. 11519 na nagpapalawig ng validity ng pondo sa ilalim ng Bayanihan 2.